An Advocate and a Half : Student Provides Service for Fellow Veterans

At Radford University, Juwell McClendon, M.S.W. ’17, found the passion that will direct her to a bright and meaningful future … for herself and her fellow American veterans.

McClendon, a 2017 Radford University Master of Social Work graduate, left Detroit at 18 looking for her way. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, she spent a year on the West Coast and returned to Norfolk, where she earned her undergraduate degree.

McClendon found Radford University and its School of Social Work as a result of a trip to a regional Rally in the Valley Social Work Summit. She liked the school’s strong reputation and the peaceful, rural campus. She enrolled, still puzzled about her direction.

At Radford University, McClendon identified a need — student veteran advocacy — to be addressed. She also found the atmosphere, education and opportunities she believes will prepare her to address it.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars-Student Veteran Association (VFW-SVA) recognized McClendon’s power to advocate for veterans. The organization named her to their 2017 class of VFW-SVA Legislative Fellows.

“When I left the military, I didn’t have a focus. My first try at college was unsuccessful because I didn’t have focus, a knowledge base or experienced mentors,” she said.

McClendon, who earned the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal during her four-year tour in the U.S. Navy, has prepared to fill the role she identified by its absence early in her career.

At Radford University, McClendon became the first graduate assistant assigned to the expanding Military Resource Center (MRC) and did a 600-hour, yearlong internship with the Veterans Administration at a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) in Wytheville.

Along with the opportunities she discovered at Radford University, she found mentors: Professor of Communication Bill Kennan, who directs the MRC; Assistant Professor of Social Work Philip Mongan, who directs Radford University’s longstanding internship program with the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and her research project supervisor, Assistant Professor of Social Work Mashooq Salehin.

McClendon said she thinks the helpful nature of which Radford University takes so much pride is part of her successful professional development as an advocate. She plans to incorporate that willingness to reach out in her future advocacy efforts on behalf veterans in the higher education environment.

“Any problem that came up, I found people to be very forthcoming with information, understanding and empathy to do what they could,” she said.

As she readies herself for the next stage of her career — a Ph.D. in social work or an aspect of higher education, a position at a university working with the expanding population of student veterans or in some as yet unimagined possibility — McClendon values her Radford University experience.

“It has been good,” she said. “Through the challenges and life lessons, I have grown personally and professionally. Radford provided many opportunities to engage my passion for advocacy and experiences that will guide and motivate me.”

McClendon’s contribution to the university she serendipitously discovered can be reflected in the growth of the MRC. According to Kennan, the MRC began humbly in 2012 at a table in the Learning and Resource Assistance Center. From Calhoun Hall, it now serves over 300 veterans, active duty personnel and military dependents.

“Juwell has been instrumental. She has a sophisticated level of understanding of policy, resources and what we ought to be doing,” said Kennan, who was named director of the MRC in 2016.

As McClendon’s internship supervisor, Mongan, added, “She is an advocate and a half. She brings a unique perspective that she shares tirelessly with her classmates and clients.”

In her time at Radford University, McClendon found a variety of ways to contribute. She was an advisor in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences advising center before moving over to help organize the MRC. She has done a phenomenological research study on the lived experiences of student veterans within the higher education system and how they succeed with and without services and support. Last summer, she joined a handful of colleagues to do research in Uganda on parental and cultural perceptions toward childhood disabilities.

Prior to coming to Radford University, she worked as a social worker in foster care and adoption.

“That was hard, heartbreaking work and a different kind of advocacy,” she said. “I learned, though, that my niche is advocacy.”

As a VFW-SVA fellow, McClendon participated in a 10-person team research project that was presented during legislative visits on Capitol Hill and at the annual VFW National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., last winter.

“The VFW-SVA Fellowship was a great honor and gave me valuable advocacy experience at a new level,” said McClendon. “I spent the holiday break digging into policy, fact-finding and building my knowledge base. The fellowship made me realize that policy is very black-and-white, so facts, facts and more facts are needed. I redrafted my portion of the project five times before I felt it was good enough to submit.”

As a VFW-SVA fellow, McClendon advocated alongside VFW staff and represented Virginia on issues facing today’s student veterans. In conjunction with the VFW National Legislative Committee, McClendon met with policy-makers from federal agencies responsible for implementing veterans’ policy.

After the conference, McClendon implemented a local advocacy plan in her home congressional district, Virginia’s 9th, and reported to the Virginia VFW state convention, as well as local VFW and SVA national offices, about her experience.

McClendon embraces the unique opportunity to combine social work and personal experience at a high level.

“Being a veteran who worked hard toward my own education was an experience I lived, and I have good friends, too, who had trouble getting on their feet and reintegrating after discharge from the military,” she said. “I appreciate this and all the many chances I had to jump right into the deep water.”

The time spent working with her brothers and sisters-in-arms at the Wytheville CBOC sealed the deal for McClendon.

“I did a little bit of everything,” McClendon said. “I learned something new daily from the veterans and their families about their needs — and their spirit. The camaraderie is amazing.” ■