Who: Shannon Doyal
What and Why: Creation of Website
Shannon Doyal is a dedicated professional and advocate for veterans. She will be graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in English with a focus on Professional and Technical Writing at Wright State University in December 2024 followed by beginning to work on a Masters in Public Administration. Her journey began, however, not in the academic arena, but in 1994 when she joined the United States Air Force serving in Security Forces. After her military career, Shannon transitioned to civilian life, becoming an EMT in 2004 and further enhancing her skills in emergency response. She then earned an AAS in Medical Massage Therapy in 2006. Shannon's diverse experiences have shaped her commitment to community service and support for fellow veterans.
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Currently, Shannon serves as the President of the Student Veterans' Association (SVA) at Wright State, where she has revitalized the organization post-COVID. In this position she is able to advocate for mental health and veteran issues. In addition to her leadership role, Shannon is a part of the student work-study program at the Veteran & Military Center (VMC). There she creates and edits media, organizes community-building events, and supports student veterans in overcoming academic challenges. Her commitment to service extends to volunteering as a medic for a private campground and participating in "Project Refit," which focuses on veteran issues and challenges such as isolation and mental health. She is actively involved in leadership development and has shared her insights on the student veteran experience with civilians, politicians, and educators.
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In her personal life, Shannon resides in Ohio with her daughter. She is currently training her service dog, Belenos Cù Seirbheis with the help of Forgotten Coast K9. Not only passionate about helping veterans, she loves camping and bushcraft, reading and movies, and creating various crafts.
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Shannon's immediate career goal is to secure a position in grant writing within the nonprofit sector, focusing on veteran organizations. She is eager to began pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration to deepen her understanding of organizational management and public policy, ultimately aiming to take on leadership roles that drive systemic changes for veterans. With her unique blend of military experience, academic knowledge, and community engagement, Shannon Doyal is committed to empowering the people in her community and creating sustainable solutions that make a meaningful impact in the lives of the veterans.
As part of her degree, Shannon is taking the course ENG 4110: Senior Capstone: Woods and Wilderness. This course examines how the American conception of “wilderness” has evolved over time and the consequences of this changing idea for nature preservation and the scientific and aesthetic appreciation of the wild. Major figures, events, trends and controversies in nature conservation and preservation are explored, along with actual designated wilderness spaces (such as National Parks and Forests, nature preserves, etc.). Through readings, discussions, and writing assignments, we will investigate the connections between wilderness concepts, environmental history, ecology, and literature. We will also examine how wilderness is entangled with issues of race, gender, colonialism, and indigenous land rights. Students will explore these topics through interdisciplinary perspectives while engaging with multiple writing genres, including nature writing. We will also engage with the Campus Woods as an important site of ecological, historical, and communal importance for the university, and students will have opportunities to learn from guest speakers in the fields of ecology, conservation, and communication studies. Throughout the semester, students will design and update their own individual websites, where they will post completed assignments and other course-related materials.
I'm Belenos Cù Seirbheis, Shannon's service dog (in training). I get to go with her through this adventure called school. I'm enjoying my time learning my manners and alerting to her medical conditions while she is learning all she can. We are great partners.
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We were brought together through Forgotten Coast K9. I am not at WSU to be socialized, so please don't ask to pet me. My human says she's more likely to bite you than I am.
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My favorite things in the world are food, good sniffie-sniffs, and getting into anything and everything I can. I'm still just a puppy so that is easy.
