Writing Seminar for Veterans and Military Families
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM | NEW YORK CITY
April 2017
Our writing seminars are where the best writers of today pay it forward to the most promising writers of tomorrow. The stories of veterans and military families have largely remained untold. In partnership with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma we welcomed 15 War Horse Fellows to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism for our weeklong seminar. Thank you to all of our generous donors and supporters, The D.J. Edelman Foundation and Starbucks Foundation who donated to support our inaugural event.
Thank you to each of the generous guest speakers who volunteer their time to inspire and mentor our War Horse Fellows.
Helen Benedict—Award-winning author and Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Steve Coll—Two-time Pulitzer Prize Winning author and dean of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Kevin Cullen—Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and NYT Bestselling author
Jim Dao—New York Times OP/ED editor
David Dunlap—New York Times reporter since 1981 where he serves as the “keeper of Times history”
Matt Gallagher—Army veteran, author of Youngblood and Kaboom
Phil Klay—Marine veteran author award-winning author of Redeployment
Stuart Krichevsky—Literary agent at SK Agency
David Rohde—Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and news director at The New Yorker
Bruce Shapiro—Executive Director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
Paula Span—New York Times journalist and professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Karen Stabiner—Author and professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Wendy Wolf—Vice President and Associate Publisher of Viking
Lee Woodruff—New York Times Bestselling author of In An Instant
This seminar let me discuss my experiences of war in a open environment where others understood and also wanted to move on from. It truly did distance myself from the war and gave me hope to turn traumatic experiences into effective leadership and development traits.
—Brendan O’Byrne
Mary Doyle currently serves as the chief of media relations for Fort George G. Meade and is the author of multiple books—both fiction and nonfiction. She served as a broadcaster in the Army Reserve and acted as the non-commissioned officer in charge of her Mobile Public Affairs Detachment during their deployment to the Bosnia peacekeeping mission in 1997. After returning to the states, Mary began work as an Army civilian broadcaster producing TV, radio, and documentary for American Forces Network.
Mary is a member of the editorial board for the online magazine The Wrath-Bearing Tree and serves on the advisory council for the MilSpeak Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers military service members, veterans, families, and caregivers through the arts.
Mary Doyle currently serves as the chief of media relations for Fort George G. Meade and is the author of multiple books—both fiction and nonfiction. She served as a broadcaster in the Army Reserve and acted as the non-commissioned officer in charge of her Mobile Public Affairs Detachment during their deployment to the Bosnia peacekeeping mission in 1997. After returning to the states, Mary began work as an Army civilian broadcaster producing TV, radio, and documentary for American Forces Network.
Mary is a member of the editorial board for the online magazine The Wrath-Bearing Tree and serves on the advisory council for the MilSpeak Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers military service members, veterans, families, and caregivers through the arts.
Teresa was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002-2006. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times and Rolling Stone, among other outlets. She is a contributor to the fiction anthology The Road Ahead, as well as the nonfiction anthologies Retire the Colors and It’s My Country, Too.
Teresa holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Columbia University. She works in technology commercialization and lives in New York City.
Nicole is a former U.S. Air Force officer who served in Iraq in 2003. She has earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master’s of Art in Diplomacy from Norwich University. She is also a member of the Truman National Security Project and the Junior League of Dallas and lives in Texas.
Nicole is currently the Vice President of Regional Operations for Team Rubicon, a nonprofit that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans and first responders to rapidly field emergency response teams worldwide.
Kate is the Military Marketing Manager for National University. Before that, she served as the Director of Content and Communications for Got Your 6 and digital engagement at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and in communications for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.
Kate has been published by the New York Times, The Daily Beast, TIME, The Huffington Post, and many others. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, holds a Bachelor’s in journalism as well as a Master’s of Art in nonfiction writing from Johns Hopkins University. Kate is a Pat Tillman Military Scholar and a Defense Council member of the Truman National Security Project.
Sarah currently works as the Relationships Manager for Team Red, White & Blue. Prior to joining the organization, Sarah spent nine years working as Director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Manager within the domestic energy industry. Sarah was an active duty commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard for five years.
Sarah earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master’s of Science in International Relations from Troy University, and a Master’s of Professional Studies in Political Management from The George Washington University.
Kristen graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in May of 2002. Following her five-year career, Kristen earned her Master’s of Social Work at the University of Southern California.
In 2012, Kristen was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for her work during the military’s repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Kristen is currently the Global Leadership Development Manager for Production at Tesla, Inc. and is a member of the Truman National Security Project’s Defense Council.
Becca is a 20-year retired veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard with extensive experience in corporate and nonprofit strategic partnerships and development. Prior to joining Bunker Labs, she worked with the Tribune Media Group and co-founded the literacy social enterprise, Open Books.
Becca holds a Bachelor’s of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She enjoys reading, fitness adventures, travel, and donuts.
Elizabeth oversees programs and scholarships for the Pat Tillman Foundation. She is a veteran of the Wisconsin Air National Guard and co-founded the Student Veterans of America and fought with a dedicated team of veteran advocates to successfully pass the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008.
Elizabeth received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Master’s from Johns Hopkins University, where her research focused on the federal government and veteran reintegration. Elizabeth is a 2010 Tillman Scholar and is passionate about urban gardening, writing, her faith, and coffee.
Danielle is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. She graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science. Danielle then commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps as a Public Affairs Officer.
Danielle, now a Captain, has since graduated from Liberty University with a Master’s of Art in Public Policy. She is currently stationed at the Pentagon.
Yvette is a U.S. Army veteran and works at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as the Traveling Art Exhibit Coordinator. Yvette deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004 and founded the Veteran Print Project after earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Yvette exhibits her work nationally.
Kayla is a former sergeant and Arabic linguist in a Military Intelligence company of the 101st Airborne Division. Kayla is the author of Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army, a memoir about her deployment to Iraq, and Plenty of Time When We Get Home: Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War, about her family’s journey from war trauma to healing.
Kayla earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s in International Affairs from American University. She is a 2013 White House Woman Veteran Champion of Change, and a 2015 Lincoln Award recipient. Kayla is now the Director of the Center for Women Veterans at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.