Statewide, AZ – (Dec. 14, 2024) – Welcome back to the Leader Lens series, where we showcase the perspectives of leaders committed to improving support for Arizona’s veterans. During a recent Team of Teams meeting, leaders were asked: If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about our work or our military and veteran community, what would it be? Their responses offer unique and valuable insights into the needs of veterans today. Today, we explore the vision of Wanda Wright, who is focused on fostering recognition for women veterans and strengthening partnerships between the VA and state veterans’ services.

Wanda Wright, Director of  Director of the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement at Arizona State University, is a passionate advocate for women veterans, dedicated to creating an environment where every woman who has served feels recognized as a veteran. Having seen the challenges women veterans face in a traditionally male-dominated environment, Wanda understands that many women veterans struggle with self-identification and recognition of their service. She envisions a future where every woman veteran confidently acknowledges her role and contributions. Additionally, Wanda believes that building a strong, cohesive partnership between the VA and state veterans’ affairs departments could enhance support for all veterans, creating a seamless network of resources and services.

The Vision: Expanding The Vision: Recognizing Women Veterans and Uniting Support Services

Wanda’s vision addresses two interconnected goals: fostering recognition for women veterans and creating a unified support system that bridges federal and state services. She believes that many women veterans hesitate to identify as veterans due to societal expectations, past experiences, or a lack of representation. Wanda wants to change this by fostering a culture that encourages every woman veteran to proudly acknowledge her service. By raising awareness and promoting programs specifically for women veterans, she aims to make the term “veteran” feel inclusive for all who have served.

In addition to advocating for recognition, Wanda envisions a tightly interwoven partnership between the VA and the state veterans’ affairs department- an approach that would streamline access to resources and reduce overlap. She sees the potential for a unified system where veterans can access both state and federal services through a single, coordinated effort, creating a seamless experience from start to finish. Such a partnership would allow veterans to more easily navigate available services, without needing to distinguish between state and federal resources or navigate multiple systems.

This strong relationship between the VA and state veterans’ services would also foster better communication, allowing for more consistent support for veterans. By working closely together, these agencies could ensure that veterans, especially those who may not have engaged with the system in the past, receive the assistance they need.

Wanda’s vision challenges us to create a veterans’ support system that is both inclusive and united. Let’s work together to ensure that every woman who has served feels seen, recognized, and valued as a veteran. Additionally, by advocating for stronger partnerships between state and federal veterans’ services, we can help build a seamless support network that serves veterans effectively.