Sheila L. Stephens
President and CEO @Jefferson State Community College
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WORK HISTORY
President and CEO @Jefferson State Community College
The Valkyrie Initiative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization helping veterans, first responders and their families with reintegration and decompression from downrange, while encouraging the best use of the warrior mentality, skills and personality. This is accomplished using jobs and life skills training, outdoors and animal therapy, plus the latest in research based modalities for teaching stress reduction techniques and addressing issues of PTS (Post Traumatic Stress - D removed purposefully). The suicide rate among U. S. military personnel continues to rise across all branches of service, the second leading cause of death in all branches. Since Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the rate of military personnel taking their own lives has more than doubled. According to the Department of Defense, it passed the general population rate even though trends for a lower suicide rate among military personnel has, previously, been the norm. The effects of suicide are devastating to family, friends, and communities. PTS is the body’s ‘wiring’ of the brain to react in dangerous and traumatic situations for protection of the organism and assurance of its survival. When returning home, especially after multiple deployments, the brain’s wiring can become hyper-overreactive to situations in the home environment…hyper-vigilance with all body alerts responding. We teach stress/hyper-vigilance management so as to prevent a constant state of adrenaline exhaustion. Besides therapeutic modalities for managing stress, Valkyrie offers job skills, training and recreation programs taught by rotating veterans, contractors, and those who have been through Valkyrie programs. For protection of all, and to insure that the participant attends of his/her own choosing, all will be vetted for authenticity of status before attending. See the website for ways you can support and help veterans and first responders.
EDUCATION
Capella University
PhD candidate, PhD Psychology
The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Bachelor’s Degree, Hearing Impaired Education
Boston University
Masters, Criminal Justice
Grand Canyon University
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Performance Psychology
SKILLS
ABOUT SHEILA L. STEPHENS
Sheila L. Stephens was an Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) special agent, recruited…
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