America is disconnected from veterans and military families. Be part of the solution.
CAREY INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL GOOD
Rensselaerville, New York
Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2022
Our fifth writing seminar—this one for military spouses—to help train the next generation of military writers to find and shape their stories.
Jennifer Brookland is a regular contributor to The War Horse who served as a special agent in the Air Force before she received her master’s in journalism from Columbia University. She’s covered military and veterans issues for North Carolina Public Radio and child welfare for the Detroit Free Press. She was also a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Stefanie Cooper served as an aircraft maintenance officer both overseas and stateside. After separating from the Air Force, she focused on her continuing role as a military spouse supporting military families at each new assignment. Cooper loves being with her family, traveling, reading, and writing. She enjoys volunteering in the community and recently began work as a substitute teacher. Stefanie is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Sarah Flores is a NASA engineer, street artist, and mother. She delights in supporting airborne science missions and raising kids with her husband—an Iraq War veteran. When she’s not covering the ground with portraits at chalk festivals, you can find her delving into writing and poetry that explore social issues, being a caregiver, and her family’s healing journeys after war. You can find her artwork on Instagram @chalkfestchica. Sarah is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Sadia Ali Heil is a special education advocate who served eight years on active duty in the Air Force. Heil earned a master’s in military operational art and science and a master’s in special education. A Tillman scholar and 2022 War Horse fellow, she is a fierce proponent of inclusion for service members and individuals with disabilities.
Eriko Kennedy was recently the executive director of a small community-based aging-in-place nonprofit. She is a human service professional with more than 25 years of experience working as a social worker, administrator, program evaluator, and volunteer leader in nonprofit, education, and government settings to support children, families, and the elderly. She holds a Master of Social Work in human services management from Boston University and a doctorate from Columbia School of Social Work in administration and policy. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband, who retired from the Army with deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Eriko is also a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Jessica Morse is a writer, teacher, mom, and military wife. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from McMurry University in 2007, where she published works in the literary magazine, The Galleon. As an Air Force spouse of 15 years, she has supported seven moves, eight combat deployments, and countless temporary duty assignments. She is passionate about telling stories that foster social connection through shared experiences and adventures, as well as telling Murphy’s law stories about a spouse’s absence as a way to commiserate. When not writing, teaching, or moving at a moment’s notice, she can be found outside enjoying the Florida sunshine and sandy beaches with her husband, three young children, and dog. Jessica is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Abby E. Murray is the editor of Collateral, a literary journal concerned with the impact of violent conflict and military service beyond the combat zone. Her first book, “Hail and Farewell,” won the Perugia Press Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. She recently finished her term as the 2019-2021 poet laureate for the city of Tacoma, Washington, and relocated to Washington, D.C. Abby is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Luke Pernotto is a retired Marine Corps infantry officer who deployed multiple times to Iraq and to Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Eastern Europe. He served in all four Marine divisions as either a platoon commander, company commander, operations officer, or executive officer. Today, he is a stay-at-home parent and proudly supports his wife, a Navy midwife serving in Japan. Luke is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Andrea Rathbun is a disabled combat veteran and an active-duty military spouse. She resides outside of Fort Polk, Louisiana, by way of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has two daughters who are full of stories and a husband with a gift for listening. She sometimes gets it wrong but always finds a way to write. Rathbun is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Matthew Shanks is a military spouse, dad, and entrepreneur focusing on ways to help people connect more meaningfully. He’s the founder of the Kovii app, a video chat app that lets you know which of your friends would like to talk to you, anytime you’re in the mood to connect but aren’t sure which friend to call. He’s also the founder of the Military Social Network, which helps people develop friendships through the MilSpocial app and various events, programs, and Facebook groups. Matthew is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Valerie Suttee is a librarian and writer. As a Marine Corps spouse of 35 years, she has experience as both an enlisted and officer wife and is passionate about sharing stories that highlight the daily lives of military spouses and families. She has a master’s degree in library science and is a 2022 War Horse fellow. She lives within walking distance of her three adult kids in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, two small dogs, and one large cat. Suttee is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
Daniel P. Woodward is a retired Air Force brigadier general, a presidentially appointed commissioner with the American Battle Monuments Commission, and the executive director of Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings. Dan is a 2022 War Horse fellow.
