The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) has received a generous $250,000 grant from longtime supporter, Prudential Financial Inc. to fund new research and navigation tools that strengthen career pathways for veterans and talent-seeking employers through higher education. Over the last five years, Prudential has awarded the IVMF more than two million dollars in funding.
“This research will help to inform policy and programming around higher education for veterans,” says Nick Armstrong, Ph.D., senior director of research and evaluation at IVMF. “Partners like Prudential understand the challenges faced by the military community. Their dedication to making significant changes to the landscape of financial education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and research for veterans and their families is critical as we work to advance the post-service experience of our country’s veterans.”
The IVMF research team will use the most recent grant dollars to explore educational trends and pathways for veterans to pursue in higher education that align with in-demand careers. The study will also review opportunities for employers to recruit, hire and maintain veteran employees within these coveted occupations, and ultimately result in a navigation tool for both aspiring student veterans and employers.
“The IVMF is one of the most trusted sources for research and insights about military families, and their work is helping to shine a light on important issues on veteran and military spouse employment – both for the candidates and employers,” said Chuck Sevola, vice president and head of Prudential’s Veterans Initiative. “We recognize that quality employment is the first and most critical step to ensuring that veterans and their families have the foundation for financial wellness, and the security and stability that comes with it.”
Prudential has been a valuable partner to IVMF for more than half a decade. Previous awards from the company have been dedicated to funding programs and research related to entrepreneurship training for veterans and military spouses, career preparation for transitioning service members and their families, and the employment challenges experienced by military spouses. Research specific to military spouse employment has been well-referenced as an authoritative perspective for employers, hiring managers, and human resource professionals looking to hire and retain military spouses.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader with more than $1 trillion of assets under management as of December 31, 2018, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.
