(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — November 13, 2023) Empire State University opened its doors today to a new Veteran and Military Resource Center, located at the university's 111 West Avenue location in Saratoga Springs. The occasion was marked by a ribbon-cutting event.

The ceremony featured remarks from Desiree Drindak, director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center; President Lisa Vollendorf; Manik Elahi, outreach manager to U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko; and New York State Senator James Tedisco. It was attended by SUNY Empire faculty, staff, and military-affiliated students and alumni, as well as by members of the university's Foundation Board, SUNY System, and a representative from the office of New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.

The 4,642-square-foot space will serve as a hub for SUNY Empire's veteran and military-affiliated students and will reinforce SUNY Empire’s commitment to holistic student support for military families. The center will serve virtual and in-person students and will feature:

• OVME Outreach and Student Services
• Academic and Financial Advising
• A National Test Center
• A NYS DVS Benefits Advisor
• Community Event Space
• Student Computers
• Faculty and Staff Training Opportunities
• Veteran Career Services
• Virtual and In-Person Game Rooms

SUNY Empire President Lisa Vollendorf, Ph.D. said, “We are very proud to serve veteran and military students. We serve more of this population than any other four-year public university or college in the state of New York, and here’s what I say to that: We want to serve more. It’s good, but we want to do better, so this is a really great step in our evolution as we continue to think with our students and learn from people who feel that college is not for them. To them, we say ‘We’re here for you regardless of where you live, regardless of where you come from, regardless of which base you are stationed at or where you are deployed.’”

SUNY Empire has served military students since its founding in 1971.

During the ribbon-cutting event, the university received citations for its work with veteran and military students from Senator Tedisco and Assemblywoman Woerner.

To learn more about SUNY Empire's Veteran and Military Resource Center, visit www.sunyempire.edu/veteran-military.