Community | Events | FeaturedOctober 14, 2025

Wounded Warrior Project to Visit UAFS

Written By: Rachel Putman

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and Wounded Warrior Project will host a free public event Monday, Oct. 20, to connect veterans, active-duty service members, and military families with connection, support services, and community resources.

The event, titled “Connecting Veterans with the Support They Deserve,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Reynolds Room of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. It will feature a keynote address from U.S. Army veteran Dr. Yolanda Poullard, a panel discussion with advocates and veterans, and resource tables staffed by Wounded Warrior Project and the UAFS Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits, and more.

Poullard, who served as a company commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, will share her personal story of military service, PTSD, and recovery through the Warrior Care Network. Her story is published at the Wounded Warrior Project newsroom.

“PTSD overtook me,” Poullard says. “It kept haunting me. It consumed my life — the guilt of not being there. I couldn’t function. All I would do was sleep or sit in a chair.”

After connecting with the Warrior Care Network through Wounded Warrior Project, Poullard said she found the support she needed to heal.

“They give you a bag of tools and skills that you can take and apply at home and in your new life,” she said. “We’re all in this together. Let’s help one another through it. We can make it out of this dark tunnel together.”

Following the keynote, UAFS VA certifying official Heather Chance will moderate a panel discussion on the student veteran experience, post-service transition and available resources. Panelists include veterans and advocates, as well as Fitha Dahana-Ellis, a Warrior Care Network specialist with Wounded Warrior Project.

“Wounded Warrior Project understands that student veterans often face unique challenges connected with their service,” said Dahana-Ellis. “Our goal with this campus visit is to meet veterans where they are—providing them with resources before they need them and ensuring they know support is available throughout their educational journey.

“We hope to connect with any student veterans, service members, or military family members who might benefit from learning about our programs. We believe in reaching veterans before they reach a crisis point. College campuses give us the opportunity to connect with veterans during a pivotal time in their lives, when they're working toward their goals and building their futures. That's when our programs can have the most meaningful impact.

“This outreach aligns with WWP’s broader mission to address veterans’ well-being across all areas—mental, physical, financial, and social. By supporting educational success, we help veterans build stable futures and successfully reintegrate into civilian life.”

Information tables will be open before and after the formal program, offering guidance on education benefits and mental health resources, as well as local and national support services.

For more information, visit uafs.edu/military.

The full schedule for the event is: 

5:30 PM – 5:40 PM: Event Kickoff & Networking

5:40 PM – 5:50 PM: Welcome from Chancellor Riley

5:50 PM – 6:20 PM: Keynote Speaker: Yolanda Poullard

6:20 PM – 6:55 PM: Panel Discussion, moderated by Heather Chance)

6:55 PM – 7:00 PM: Door prizes and closing remarks

 

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• Military and Veteran