Writing Seminar for Women Veterans
BOULDER CREST RETREAT | BLUEMONT, VIRGINIA
February 2 – February 7, 2018
Thank you to all of our generous donors and supporters, the Starbucks Foundation, and Cohen Veterans Network, who donated to support our second-annual writing seminar. The week-long retreat brought together a dozen Post-9/11 women veterans together with leading military reporters, veteran advocates, educators, and mental health leaders. During the week, Fellows toured the Washington Post newsroom and received one-on-one professional development from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and authors of New York Times Bestsellers. We hope you enjoy some of the photographs taken throughout our week at Boulder Crest Retreat.
Meet the Fellows
Kiersten Downs
Kiersten Downs is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She deployed three times during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science, a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and a Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology from the University of South Florida.
Currently, Kiersten is working as a Health Science Research Specialist at the Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, a Department of Veterans Affairs research center. She currently holds a position on SVA’s Board of Directors.
Mary Doyle
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 Fazio
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 Green
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 Hoit
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 Holzhalb
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 Kavanaugh
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.
Elizabeth O’Herrin
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.
Becca Keaty
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.
Danielle Phillips
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 M. Pino
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 Williams
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.
Guest Speakers
Thank you to each of the generous guest speakers who volunteer their time to inspire and mentor our War Horse Fellows.
Kevin Cullen — Columnist for The Boston Globe
Stuart Krichevsky — Literary agent for Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency
Dana Priest — Pulitzer-prizing winning Investigative journalist for The Washington Post, professor at University of Maryland
Robert Rosenthal — Senior advisor to The War Horse, board member for The Center for Investigative Reporting
Bruce Shapiro — Director of the Dart Center of Journalism and Trauma
Karen Stabiner — Journalist, professor at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism
“It was five days of real connection, inspiration, creativity, and productivity. It took me a long time to come down from the high of the retreat and I wasn’t alone.”
— Mary Doyle, 2018 War Horse Fellow
Mary Doyle
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
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 Fazio
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 Green
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 Hoit
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 Holzhalb
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 Kavanaugh
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 Keaty
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 O’Herrin
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 Phillips
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 M. Pino
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 Williams
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.
