Face the Fight Exchange

After earning her undergraduate degree, she held several positions that included working with children in schools, supporting offenders during reentry after incarceration, offering employment guidance for low-income adults, and helping support adult literacy. Hannah then began her Masters of Science in Social Work at the University of Texas, where she completed the Administration and Policy Practice concentration, planning for a career in non-profit management.

While pursuing her degree, she fell in love with, and ultimately married a Marine Corps veteran and began immersing herself in the unique culture of the military. It wasn’t long before she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the service of veteran spouses and families. Hannah has been with the Veteran Spouse Network (VSN) since 2017, and as the Program Director she helps develop, implement, and evaluate peer support programs for military and veteran spouses and families to ensure they receive the support they deserve. In addition to her role within the VSN, Hannah has had the opportunity to coordinate marriage enrichment and PTSD treatment groups for veteran couples, as well as assist in a multitude of different research projects under the Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness at UT Austin, aimed at supporting military and veteran families.

Ashley Craig serves as the Veteran Spouse Network (VSN) Marketing Development & Training Manager. As a spouse of an Army veteran, Ashley is dedicated to applying her passion for mental health wellness, focusing on delivering and providing resources to veterans and their families through a peer-support model. Her dedication to VSN developed after she participated in the V-SRG program. Shortly after, she decided to become a VSN Peer Leader; she led multiple groups and supported the V-SRG program’s online curriculum. Ashley’s work focuses on fostering relationships with community partners on outreach initiatives. Most importantly, increasing opportunities to empower military and veteran spouses through peer-led support and mental wellness.

Jamela is the spouse of an Army veteran, and they have three amazing young adult children. Jamela was introduced to the Veteran Spouse Network (VSN) in 2019 as a peer group participant and then later became a VSN Peer Leader. Her current role with VSN is serving as Outreach Manager and continuing to build strong relationships with community partners on outreach initiatives. Jamela is inspired every day to support military and veteran spouses through shared experiences, empowerment, and education.

Leading the STRONG STAR Training Initiative, Dr. Dondanville has trained over 3000 clinicians globally, reaching 10,000 individuals with evidence-based treatments for PTSD, suicide, and related areas. Additionally, she serves as Chief Scientific Advisor for Face the Fight, guiding the initiative to reduce veteran suicide rates. With expertise in PTSD treatments and a commitment to research-driven solutions, she strives to improve therapy access and effectiveness for all. Beyond her leadership roles, Dr. Dondanville mentors junior faculty and postdoctoral fellows, sharing her knowledge and experience to foster the next generation of mental health professionals. She has contributed significantly to the field with over 100 scientific papers and over 150 presentations at research conferences, emphasizing her dedication to advancing mental health care through research, training, and advocacy.