Department of Veterans Affairs
Many-Bears Grinder, Commissioner

Women Veterans Summit 2013

April 13-14, 2013
The Inn at Opryland
2401 Music Valley Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
(Across the street from the Opryland Hotel)

Marine Veteran Senator Dolores Gresham will be one of the inspirational speakers at the Second Annual Women Veterans Summit on Saturday, April 13. After retiring from the United States Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel, Senator Gresham continued her efforts to serve her Country by running for public office. In 2002, Gresham was elected to the House of Representatives where she served for six years. In 2008, she was elected Senator for District 26 and re-elected in 2012. The Tennessee Senator will share stories from her military career that helped to shape her interest in making a difference in education, employment and economic development in the Volunteer State. Click here to learn more about Senator Gresham.

Dr. Betty Moseley Brown is a dynamic speaker and passionate advocate for Women Veterans. Dr. Moseley Brown assumed the position of Associate Director of the Center for Women Veterans on November 1, 2004. In this capacity, she advises and assists the Director of the Center for Women Veterans in planning, directing, managing and coordinating programs as well as activities of the Center. The Marine Veteran serves as a facilitator for VA's National Summit on Women Veterans' Issues which is a major training and outreach quadrennial event for women Veterans, women Veterans advocates and other federal agencies that provide services to women Veterans. On Sunday, April 14, Dr. Moseley Brown will share exciting advances in Women Veterans resources and participate in a panel discussion with VA experts.

Kentucky native, Steve Cochran was on his way to pursuing a country music career when the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 compelled him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Cochran served in Iraq and Afghanistan. While he was serving with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Cochran was critically injured by and IED and told he would never walk again. After extensive rehabilitation and medical treatment at the VA Medical Center in Nashville, Cochran is able to walk, perform and give back to his fellow Veterans. The Marine Veteran will share his story and perform at the Second Annual Women Veterans Summit on Saturday, April 13. Click here to learn more about Cochran's inspiring recovery.

As a stand up comedian, Sheila Van Dyke has entertained troops stationed in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Qatar and Germany as well as many military installations and hospitals statewide. She has also worked in many comedy clubs and has been seen and heard on television and radio. Her mission is not for fame, but for laughter. "Mission of Laughter" is Sheila's one woman show that she performs for Veterans. Her ultimate goal is to travel to every VA hospital to share the healing power of laughter. Sheila will continue her "Mission of Laughter" at the Summit on Saturday, April 13.