NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service is joining a nationwide cohort of schools enrolling more military veterans and family members to help connect them to careers in government and public service.

As part of the Service to Service initiative, Wagner will enroll at least five veterans or military-connected students ahead of the fall 2026 semester. Service to Service works with nonprofits Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans and Military Families, which aim to enroll veterans and military family members in graduate schools to prepare them for public service careers. NYU will be one of 28 universities across the country, including Brown University and Cornell University, to participate in the program.

The graduate school currently has 835 students, around 30 of whom are veterans, Wagner dean Polly Trottenberg said in an interview with WSN. She added that she hopes the school can enroll more veterans in the future.

“My parents were both World War II vets. My father was a bombardier-navigator. My mother was a truck driver,” Trottenberg said. “So to me, it’s a tremendous privilege to get to be part of a program like this.”

Veterans and military family members at Wagner who are interested in careers in state and local government will be eligible to join a group to receive support in finding internship and career opportunities. Trottenberg said that Wagner would also work with We the Veterans and Military Families to help Service to Service enrollees find careers in government.

“We have an amazing vet at Wagner right now — he’s in the Army, and he’s studying urban planning now and has been interning at the city’s emergency management department,” Trottenberg said. “So the school does a lot to try and prepare folks, both academically and career-wise, to take those next steps.”

Wagner also offers the Yellow Ribbon program, which provides $29,500 in additional funding for undergraduates and graduate students who qualify for post-9/11 GI Bill tuition benefits. The school also provides Veteran Readiness and Employment services to help students with job training, along with starting their own business and independent living.

Wagner also supports veteran students through its Wagner Military Veterans Group, which links veterans to outreach and extracurricular opportunities. The group is open to both veterans and any students with an interest in veteran’s affairs.

“Wagner is a school that is known for having a very supportive climate for students,” Trottenberg said. “We have a very robust career services office to help military folks connect with great fellowship and internship opportunities, and then long-term careers.”

Contact Zachary Karp at [email protected].