Transitioning from military life back into civilian life can be extremely challenging for veterans. It can be even more difficult when veterans return from duty to continue their education at a higher education institution. This is where Scott Taylor steps in.
As the director of transfer and veteran admissions in the Office of Admissions, Taylor recruits, admits and enrolls student veterans into undergraduate programs at Syracuse University. Additionally, his office helps veterans make a plan for them to adjust to life in higher education and find the support they need to succeed at Syracuse University and beyond.
A veteran himself, Taylor served the country for 20 years as part of the United States Army. Over the course of his career Taylor worked in a variety of roles around the world. He served in Korea working on stateside assignments, was deployed to Afghanistan three times including once in October 2001, right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
After finishing his military career, Taylor came back to Syracuse University to work in admissions. Taylor has found his work in veteran admissions to be extremely rewarding, as he gets to directly contribute to improving student life for veterans on campus. “We’ve been involved in taking care of veterans for 100 years now, and I’m happy to be a part of it and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it,” he says.
Taylor is just one part of the extensive support network for student veterans and veterans in the community. From the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building (NVRC) to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the University has shown its commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for veterans. “Syracuse University really does put forward that something they believe in is taking care of veterans,” Taylor said. “It’s reflected every day but it’s extra special Veterans Day.”