Student Diversity Events

Join our panel of experts and distinguished guests as we discuss overcoming the three corrosives (Sexual Assault, Extremism and Suicide) to secure the wellbeing of our Veterans and Servicemembers.

0900-0920: Opening Comments

• Mr. Robert Merkl, Special Assistant for Military & Veterans Affairs, W&M

• President Katherine A. Rowe, W&M

• General David Perkins (Retired), former Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Ft. Eustis, Virginia

• General Paul E. Funk II, Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Ft. Eustis, Virginia

0920-0950: Sexual Harassment and Assault Panel

• Lieutenant Holly Harper, USMC Sexual Assault Response Coordinator

• Ms. Janet Mansfield, Criminal Law Attorney, Office of the Judge Advocate General

• Lieutenant Colonel Scott Stephens, Athena Thriving Co-Author

0950-1010: Q&A

1010-1035: Break/Cadet Breakout Group Discussion

1035-1105: Diversity, Inclusion and Extremism Panel

• Lieutenant Christian Chisolm, 1st Fully Integrated Tank Platoon PL

• Dr. Christopher Lee, Chief Human Resources Officer, W&M

• Colonel Jeff McCausland, Diamond6 Leadership CEO, Dickinson College Professor

• A. Benjamin Spencer, W&M Law School Dean and Chancellor Professor, Judge Advocate General, Corps of the U.S. Army (Reserve)

1105-1125: Q&A

1125-1150: Break/Cadet Breakout Group Discussion

1150-1220: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Panel

• Dr. Elizabeth Burgin, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Military and Veterans Counseling Program, W&M School of Education

• Major Chris Mercado, Co-Founder, Objective Zero

• Father Michael Pacella, Retired Army Chaplain

1220-1240: Q&A

1240-1250: Closing Comments

• The Honorable Robert M. Gates '65, L.H.D. '98, W&M Chancellor and former U.S. Secretary of Defense

• Dr. R. Kelly Crace, Associate Vice President for Health & Wellness; Director of Center for Mindfulness and Authentic Excellence (CMAX), W&M

1250-1315: Cadet Breakout Group Discussion

The symposium is grounded in the Army's policy and priority adjustments to reinforce their focus on People. As Department of Defense Senior Leaders turn their attention to internal threats to force, we align this discussion with their renewed priorities and leverage the liberal arts perspective of the university to overcome the Big 3.

Each section's panel of speakers will elaborate and respond to questions on one of the three topics, as moderated by Cadet leaders. The audience will be mainly composed of Army ROTC Cadets across the 4th Brigade of Cadet Command, student veterans, and the general public. As Cadets prepare to commission, they will absorb the knowledge and insight presented and use it as they battle these corrosives in the military.

This symposium is hosted in cooperation with the W&M Veteran-to-Executive Transition (W&M VET) Program, to include the Student Veterans Association, Puller Benefits Clinic, Office of Student Veteran Engagement, Center for Mindfulness and Authentic Excellence, W&M Business School, Whole of Government Center of Excellence, and more.

We hope to see you virtually in April!