Every Friday during the fall semester, our "Start Here, Anytime" series will spotlight an adult learner who chose to come to Onondaga Community College to pursue new opportunities, new goals, and a new chapter in life. Today, meet Eric Kreisler.
When Eric Kreisler first came to Onondaga Community College after graduating from West Genesee High School, he wasn’t quite sure why he was here. “I don’t think I was ready for it. I didn’t have direction. I knew everybody else was off to college so, I followed suit.”
Kreisler eventually left OCC for Syracuse University, where he was part of the ROTC program. But instead of continuing his education, he decided he wanted to remain enlisted. That decision began a journey that would take him through 12 years in the Army National Guard and five years as a New York State Corrections Officer.
Then, in his early 30s, with a young family and a new perspective on his future, Kreisler found himself thinking about college again. His son’s birth was the catalyst. “While I was out on parental leave, I started thinking about if I wanted to keep working harder or working smarter. I explored my options and talked to Steve.”
“Steve” is Steve White, Assistant Director of OCC's nationally recognized Office of Veterans and Military Services. White helped Kreisler navigate his options and find a path back to college. With the direction he lacked previously, Kreisler enrolled at OCC in the spring of 2025 as an Electrical Technology major, drawn in part by the tremendous growth of the technology and advanced manufacturing industries in Central New York. “I knew there were companies coming into the area like Micron, and a lot of the industry had been going toward the technology route. I wanted to set myself up for success.”
There was another reason he chose Electrical Technology: He was starting from scratch. “I didn’t have any electrical knowledge, so I wasn’t coming in with any bad habits,” he said.
Returning to the classroom after years in the military and workforce took some adjustment. But his years in the National Guard had also given him something valuable: experience learning how to learn. As he advanced through the ranks, Kreisler attended military schools and training programs that required him to absorb new information, master new skills, and put that knowledge to work. “I had that military education side that had prepared me to sit here and be a sponge."
He has embraced that approach at OCC, taking advantage of the Learning Center for tutoring and meeting with professors during office hours. “I’ve loved it here. It’s been great. The professors have been great. The resources are here to make what you want of it.”
The College’s Office of Veterans and Military Services has also been an important part of his experience. “It was so nice to come in and talk to someone with the understanding of how the VA works. I talk to Steve every time I have to register for classes. He’s great.”
This summer, OCC helped Kreisler take another step toward his future by connecting him with an internship at TTM Technologies through the Educational Alliance for Semiconductor Experiential Learning (EASEL) Program. Supported by OCC professors Gino Duca, and Colleen Stevens, along with Career and Transfer Specialist Julie Ende, EASEL gives community college students opportunities for immersive, work-based learning in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing.
At TTM, Kreisler was introduced to the printed circuit board manufacturing process. “It was great. My mind was blown day after day!” More than simply confirming his interest, the experience helped validate the direction he had chosen. “I felt like I was going the right way into an engineering discipline.”
Kreisler will graduate from OCC in December, and plans to continue his education at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, where he will major in Electrical Engineering Technology.
