Veterans in Society 2013: Changing the Discourse

“Veterans in Society: Changing the Discourse” took place from April 14-15, 2013 at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. The goal of the conference was to call attention to the emerging research and growing need for interdisciplinary efforts relating to all aspects of veterans’ experience, from access to higher education, healthcare, and employment; the efficacy of psychological and medical services; veterans' identity, diversity and inclusion; higher education; to veterans' engagement with civil society.

In the years since 9/11, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of veterans, particularly those with combat experience. With Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, our troops returning home and finding their places in society. As a result, the topic of veterans’ reintegration into society has become both a key priority and a challenge for federal and state governments and educational institutions of all types. Scholars and researchers conducting research related to veterans’ reintegration into society were the intended audience for VSC2013. This audience includes university professors, doctoral students, and researchers affiliated with institutions of higher learning. Research tracks are:

• Depicting veterans through films, memorials, and public discourse
• Listening to and studying language about women veterans
• Healing the wounds of war: motive, motivations, and interventions to assist veterans
• Teaching and learning: pedagogical strategies and programs for veterans
• Integrating veterans: an investigation of veteran-specific needs and policies
• Connecting spheres: veteran engagement with their communities

To date, no other university has convened an academic conference solely focused on veteran related research. The VSC2013 planning committee envisioned this conference as an annual event and the first step towards making Virginia Tech the leader in the emerging field of Veterans Studies.