Ray Toenniessen Named Executive Director of Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Ray Toenniessen named executive director of the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)

Ray Toenniessen, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime member of the Institute’s senior leadership team, has been named executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University.

The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University

U.S. Army veteran and longtime Institute leader succeeds founder J. Michael Haynie, who now serves as Syracuse University's 13th Chancellor

SYRACUSE, NY, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Syracuse University today announced the appointment of Ray Toenniessen as executive director of the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). A U.S. Army veteran and longtime member of the Institute's senior leadership team, Toenniessen succeeds J. Michael Haynie, who founded the IVMF in 2011 and served as its executive director until becoming Syracuse University's 13th Chancellor earlier this year.

Toenniessen, who most recently served as deputy executive director, has helped guide the D'Aniello IVMF's growth since its inception, from a new university initiative, into one of the nation's leading organizations dedicated to advancing the lives of service members, veterans and their families. In his new role, he will oversee the Institute's global portfolio of programs, research, partnerships and policy initiatives, while guiding its continued growth and impact.
Toenniessen will also continue to serve as a vice president for strategic initiatives, working closely with Chancellor Haynie to lead and advise on strategic initiatives that advance the University's priorities across campus.

"Ray has been an integral part of the IVMF's story from the very beginning, and I can think of no one better prepared to lead the Institute into its next chapter," said Chancellor Haynie. "He understands this mission, he knows what it takes to build and lead an organization of national significance, and he has earned the trust and respect of our team, our partners and the broader veteran community. I have tremendous confidence in Ray's ability to build on what we've accomplished and take the IVMF even further. I'm equally pleased that he will continue to be a part of my University leadership team, helping advance important priorities across Syracuse University."

Toenniessen's connection to Syracuse University and its commitment to veterans began well before the founding of the IVMF. A 2006 graduate of Syracuse University, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served four years on active duty, including a year-long combat deployment to Iraq. Following his military service, he returned to Syracuse in 2010 to help lead veteran entrepreneurship programs at the Whitman School of Management, working alongside Haynie to expand opportunities for veterans pursuing business ownership.

When the D'Aniello IVMF was established in 2011, Toenniessen became one of its early leaders, serving as national managing director of entrepreneurship programs. Over the next 15 years, he held a series of increasingly senior positions spanning program development, external relations, fundraising, institutional strategy and operations. He was appointed deputy executive director in November 2024, assuming responsibility for the Institute's day-to-day leadership and strategic execution.

Throughout his tenure, Toenniessen has played a central role in expanding the D'Aniello IVMF's national reach, developing partnerships across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and strengthening its ability to deliver programs and services to military-connected individuals and families nationwide. Today, the Institute's work spans career preparation and employment, entrepreneurship, community-based services, applied research, policy and higher education, serving more than 235,000 service members, veterans and military family members since its founding.

"Fifteen years ago, Mike had a vision for what a university could do to better serve those who have served our country. I've been fortunate to help turn that vision into something with a real and lasting impact on veterans and military families across the country," said Toenniessen. "I'm grateful for Mike's leadership, his mentorship and the trust he has placed in me. But what makes the IVMF special is the extraordinary team of people who show up every day committed to this mission. I'm proud of what we've built, but I'm even more excited about what's ahead. The needs of veterans and military families continue to evolve, and so must we. Our responsibility is to keep challenging ourselves, strengthening our work and finding better ways to deliver meaningful impact for the people and families we serve."

As executive director, Toenniessen will focus on expanding the D'Aniello Institute's reach and impact, strengthening the connection between research and practice, and building partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for veterans and military families. His leadership will also emphasize innovation, organizational effectiveness and ensuring the IVMF continues to respond to the changing needs of the communities it serves.

In addition to his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University, Toenniessen holds a Master of Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. He was selected as a 2025 Presidential Leadership Scholar, a national leadership development program that brings together accomplished leaders from the nonprofit, public, private and military sectors.

About the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
The D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University is a national leader in advancing the lives of service members, veterans and their families. Founded in 2011 as the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education and policy issues affecting the military-connected community, the IVMF delivers innovative programs, conducts actionable research and builds partnerships across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Through its work in career preparation, entrepreneurship, community services, research and policy, the Institute helps military-connected individuals and families navigate transitions, access opportunity and thrive.

Lynsey Riffle
IVMF Marketing & Communications
lriffle@syr.edu