Joeanne Thomas

Background

About Joeanne Thomas

Alum of the University of Maryland, Marine Corps veteran, Veteran Wellness Assistant and 2020 Tillman scholar. all hats that I wear on a daily basis. Because of my experiences in the Marine Corps, I have developed a strong interest in social psychology research and am invested in the mental health of our veterans. Ronald Reagan once said, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” I know I have made a difference in many lives, but I'm not done yet. I want to help those who have sacrificed so much. Since a career is a series of small decisions we make, I am continuously learning and looking for new ways to help facilitate wellness in our veteran population. I am currently working as the Veteran Wellness Assistant for the University of Maryland's Office of Veteran Student Life. While research on veterans is a strong interest of mine, I am also pursuing experiences in recreational therapy as I have seen its benefits for our veterans during my time here. Adventure-based mental healthcare is my passion. I will have completed my Master's of Professional Studies in Clinical Psychology at UMD in December of 2021 and am interested in taking next steps into the non-profit management world. Ultimately I will start a non-profit that focuses on adventure-based mental health for military-connected individuals with mental health struggles. How can I help you support those who have fought for us? Topics of interest include, but are not limited to-Veteran Mental Health -Adventure Programming -Higher Education -Social Psychology -Significance Quest Theory -Military Psychology -Non-profit world