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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Student Veterans of America (SVA), the nation’s premier organization providing military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and beyond, has named James Schmeling as Executive Vice President of Strategic Engagement. With this appointment, SVA is increasing the focus on research and driving public policy to support the continued success of the veteran community.
"Adding James Schmeling to the team further strengthens our ability to meet the needs of student veterans across the country," noted Jared Lyon, SVA Acting President/CEO. “James’ understanding of our nation’s veterans and military families, especially student veterans, and his leadership experience on the national stage will greatly benefit veterans, service members, and military families in pursuit of higher education.”
SVA is a chapter-based coalition of student veterans and their supporters focused on helping veterans integrate into college life, achieve their academic goals, and gain meaningful employment. Supporting chapters and empowering chapter leaders and members will remain a key element of SVA’s mission while new programs and services are developed to expand SVA’s influence and impact.
“Now is the time to redouble our efforts with higher education and veterans, to enable the education sector to meet the needs of veterans as well as its own needs,” said James Schmeling. “While I was at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), it became clear that higher education is the key differentiator in veterans’ career success after military service. Having spent the past 16 years working as an administrator and researcher in higher education, I’m looking forward to applying that experience at SVA in support of students, faculty, and administrators to ensure the best post-college outcomes for our veterans.”
James Schmeling, J.D., co-founded the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, and was appointed as its first managing director. At IVMF Schmeling supervised the Programs mission area, which includes transition, employment, education and training programs. Schmeling’s work on veteran employment includes collaboration with leading corporations including GE, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Walmart. As an academic administrator and intrapreneur, Schmeling co-founded two, and built three, highly successful publicly-engaged institutes in public and private universities. He leads and has served on several non-profit boards. Mr. Schmeling has published on veteran policy, employment practices, entrepreneurship and disability, study of corporate culture, disability as a component of diversity, and more. Schmeling is a U.S. Air Force veteran, served 6+ years, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Post-service he earned his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law, and his B.A. in political science with a minor in international studies (Latin America) from Iowa State University.
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