TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Vietnam War veteran and national expert on veterans’ matters Floyd “Shad” Meshad will be on campus Thursday, Sept. 23, to help The University of Alabama launch the new VETS — Veterans Education and Transition Support — initiative.
VETS is a program through which UA will provide academic and personal support for veterans entering or reentering college. The program will address unresolved problems related to combat, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We consider it an honor to be able to work with the men and women of the armed forces who are so important in protecting our freedoms,” said Gwendolyn Hood, director of the UA Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/University Compliance, who is directing VETS. “Mr. Meshad’s visit will help us get the word out about the initiative and we greatly appreciate his coming to our campus in connection with this program.”
Meshad will begin his visit to UA with a lunch with the Campus Veterans Association and others interested in veterans’ affairs from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Anderson Room.
He will give a keynote presentation at 6 p.m. at the Hotel Capstone, 320 Paul Bryant Drive. Meshad will also be available to meet those interested in the program during a reception there from 5:30-6 p.m. Both the reception and keynote talk are open to the public.
The key topics of discussion for both the luncheon and Meshad’s keynote address include veterans’ readjustment to civilian life and his memoir, “A Captain for Dark Mornings.”
Meshad has been a long-time advocate for veterans’ rights. After receiving his master’s degree in psychiatric social work from Florida State University, he enlisted in the army and served as a medical service officer during the Vietnam War. Upon his return, Meshad founded and directed the Vietnam Veterans Re-Socialization Unit at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif., where he was among the first to study PTSD.
Today, Meshad teaches stress reduction and anger management and continues his work with veterans to help them through the process of healing and readjustment to civilian life.
For more information about the event or VETS, contact Hood at 205/348-5855 or ghood@aalan.ua.edu.
Contact
Desiree’ Mahr or Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Gwendolyn Hood, UA Equal Opportunity Programs/University Compliance, 205/348-5855 or ghood@aalan.ua.edu