CVTI presents two sessions at SVA NatCon:
The Ultimate “Impostor Syndrome”: How to be a Civilian Military-Serving Professional -
“Hi. We are Betsy and R.J., and we are not veterans. Yes, you read that correctly. We have dedicated our professional lives to serving those who have served, but we ourselves did not serve in the United States Armed Forces. If you are like us—if you have ever felt the need to apologize for or to make excuses for your civilian status as you operate within military-serving spaces—then we hope you will join us to build community around (1) how best to manage the “impostor syndrome” that inevitably comes with being a non-veteran veteran-serving professional, (2) why we should stop apologizing for and start owning our civilian-ness as we engage in the critical work of veteran advocacy, and (3) strategies we have used to connect with our student veterans in an authentic, trust-building way.”
And
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Dispelling Damaging Misconceptions About (Student) Veterans Using VCT
“In theory, veterans of the United States Armed Forces are revered, celebrated, and hailed as heroes. In practice, however, veterans often face lazy stereotypes and damaging misconceptions in spaces ranging from the college classroom to the corporate boardroom. These misconceptions undermine understanding of who veterans are, what they need, and the unique value they bring. This session will introduce participants to Veteran Critical Theory (VCT), a framework that examines these issues, and provide practical strategies for using VCT to dispel harmful typecasting, build stronger cultures of support, and foster a more nuanced understanding of the diverse student veteran population. Through discussion and hands-on workshopping, participants—whether student veteran leaders or veteran-serving higher education professionals—will leave with actionable tools to make an immediate, positive impact on their campuses. This session is inspired by growing interest in applying VCT to improve the student veteran experience in
2024.”