By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

Student Brian Tavarez has always had a heart for service – something that, as a proud Dominican, he sees as a cultural norm: “We can’t help it. It’s just natural for us to want to feed you well, offer our support, and welcome you with open arms.” After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Tavarez is forging a new, but equally impactful career, starting at SUNY Broome. 

Tavarez was born in the borough of Manhattan to a family of tried and true New Yorkers, who equally yearned for life in the Dominican Republic. As a result, his early years included multiple moves to and from the DR, but the family ultimately settled in the U.S. for the latter half of his K-12 schooling. Drawn to the healthcare field, Tavarez attended the Bronx Health Sciences High School and volunteered at a local rehabilitation center, which cultivated a deep respect for older adults and inspired dreams of becoming a geriatrician. But when he wasn’t paying it forward in the community, he was hanging around with “the wrong crowd”. The result? Barely graduating with a dismal 1.8 GPA. That’s where the Marine Corps came in.

“I always had a heart for service, but I lacked discipline. I knew the military would give me the structure and resilience that I needed to successfully enter adulthood,” Tavarez reflected. “Latinos love a challenge, so I wanted to enlist in what I thought was the most challenging and elite branch of the military.” 

After a year of intensive training, he spent four years deployed throughout Asia, working as an Air Traffic Control Radar Technician. During a stint in Japan, Tavarez and a fellow Marine of Honduran descent were delighted to connect with fellow Latinos on the other side of the world.

“We were signing in Spanish as we walked through the city, and a man excitedly flagged us down,” Tavarez laughed. “Turns out, he was also Dominican. We were all so happy to find “our people” and speak in our native language so far from home.”

After shorter tours in South Korea and the Philippines, the then 22-year-old veteran honorably left the Marines and headed straight for the Dominican Republic for some much-needed R&R. 

“After all those years away, it was so amazing to see my family, regroup, and eat. Really, I ate so much good food. I didn’t realize how much I missed it,” Tavarez said. “My time in the DR really helped me to envision who I was now that I was no longer an active-duty Marine. That season allowed me to reconnect with who I was beyond the uniform. In a way, it helped bring ‘Brian’ back.”

Ready for his next adventure, Tavarez accepted a position as a Function Test Technician with the Kawasaki Rail Car Inc., building and testing rail cars for NYC subways. While his time in the Marines fostered a love and aptitude for technology, Tavarez longed for meaningful human interaction.

“I started to research how I could blend technology with service, and stumbled on radiation therapy,” Tavarez said. “That’s when I knew it was time for me to access my G.I. Bill and work toward my original goal of a career in healthcare.”

Tavarez is on track to graduate from SUNY Broome in Spring 2026 to pursue his goal of becoming a radiation therapist.
Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

Seeking reprieve from the hustle of NYC living, Tavarez searched for colleges beyond the five boroughs and zeroed in on the radiation therapy program at The College of Health Professions at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Tavarez was thrilled to learn about a special articulation agreement between Upstate Medical and SUNY Broome’s Health Science: A.S. program, which would allow him to complete his mandatory prerequisites at SUNY Broome, and seamlessly transfer to Upstate with a solid foundation and lightened academic load – an ideal option for an adult learner with a goal to retool. Tavarez arrived on campus in spring 2025, ready to grow academically, socially, and spiritually. 

“While learning about clubs during my campus tour, Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC) caught my attention because I had been wanting to strengthen my faith,” Tavarez shared. “I built an awesome community of friends through BASIC that semester, and this year I’m the club’s Vice President. My Dominican roots can’t help but pop up in our club meetings, and I wind up cooking for everyone.”

In preparation for his Fall 2026 transfer to SUNY Upstate Medical, Tavarez is strategically completing all of his general education and natural science courses in SUNY Broome’s small and supportive lectures and labs. The once 1.8 GPA high school student is now boasting a stellar 3.95 GPA in college, a fact that he credits to the two m’s: the military, and maturity. 

Thanks to a recent birthday, Tavarez is now 25, making him SUNY Reconnect–eligible for the Spring 2026 semester. This change in status will enable him to access FREE tuition for his Health Science: A.S. degree!

Brian’s Advice for Hispanic Heritage Month: “Don’t hide your cultural heritage. Embrace it and enrich other people’s lives with it. People are always happy when I turn on some Latin music and serve delicious Dominican food.”

Brian’s Advice for Future SUNY Broome Students: “Get engaged on campus! Joining a club or making a connection can really make an impact on your college experience and your life!”

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Tavarez participated in a panel discussion on the power of embracing and sharing your culture.
Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

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