Eddie Arambula, Ph.D., Jessica Dunn, Kristin Van Diest, Khoi Nguyen, Ph.D., and their dedicated team are ensuring that veterans at Texas State University have a place to belong and can share their stories through the Journal of Interactive Veteran Experiences (JIVE). This innovative journal offers veterans a platform to publish scholarly articles and creative works, including poetry, artwork, and audio recordings.
JIVE
Van Diest, the head of Special Collections and Archives at University Libraries, highlighted the challenges veterans face in academic publishing, stating, “There’s a lot of gatekeeping and closed doors in the academic publishing landscape. JIVE aims to break these barriers by allowing veterans to submit their work without stringent publishing requirements.”
The focus of JIVE is on storytelling rather than just article writing, which is inspired by auto-ethnographical studies such as Arambula’s dissertation. JIVE submissions undergo editorial review with academic works subjected to a peer review process, ensuring quality while amplifying veteran voices.
Arambula pointed out the often-narrow portrayals of veterans in scholarly literature, saying, “There’s always rhetoric about how they’re broken, why they’re broken, and how we’re going to fix them. It’s really important that we as humans explore our narratives as we’re figuring out who we are and how we navigate the world. This is especially true for veterans who have a lot to process.”
JIVE received significant support through a Unity Technologies Social Impact grant, due to the journal’s expansion beyond traditional text-based formats and partnership with Nguyen, Alkek One Emerging Technologies department supervisor. Van Diest noted, “You can listen to stories and interact with 3D scans and current technology as part of the journal.”
The grant also facilitated scholarships for veterans submitting projects, fostering a supportive community. With backing from Katherine Selber, Ph.D., and Kelly Clary, Ph.D., in the School of Social Work, the initial call for submissions was made in Spring 2024.
Arambula is a distinguished educator and veteran who earned his doctorate in educational and community leadership from TXST. His academic journey was complemented by military service spanning 11 years in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Having experienced feelings of disconnection during his studies, he recognized that many programs targeted undergraduate veterans rather than those pursuing advanced degrees. This motivated him to co-create JIVE after completing his dissertation, emphasizing the need for spaces where veterans could connect and share their stories.
“Veterans are not your traditional students,” he said. “Some of us are married and have children. We have experienced a lot of hardships that are foreign to the average student.”
Arambula’s extensive research focuses on educational equity and veteran integration into academic settings. He is passionate about fostering a sense of community among veterans, believing that sharing their stories could significantly impact their personal and academic journeys.
Veterans Alliance of Texas State
Dunn is pursuing her doctoral degree in adult, professional, and community education and currently serves as president of the Veterans Alliance of Texas State (VATS). She also serves as an inspirational mentor to military-connected students across campus.
With a military career spanning 21 years between the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army, she highlighted the importance of mentorship, saying, “Mentoring is the key to success. Veterans often find themselves as older students and have navigated many challenging transitions. While they approach these difficulties with a strong work ethic and a can-do attitude, the cumulative effects of constant change can often catch up with them.”
Veterans tend to have a reluctance to express vulnerability which often means that unaddressed experiences linger beneath the surface, reminding them of the sacrifices they made and the missions they completed.
To build a supportive community, Dunn believes it is crucial for veterans to have the opportunity to express themselves.
“Such environments allow us to reflect on our experiences and find strength in the community, helping us to transform our challenges into opportunities for healing and connection,” she said.
Dunn has initiated a resource guide on the VATS website to centralize and update vital information for veterans. She is also focusing on rebuilding relationships with local organizations, emphasizing the importance of platforms like JIVE for veterans to share their experiences.
“The goal is to create a culture where veterans are supporting fellow veterans,” Dunn said.
Plans to Expand Reach
In addition to JIVE, another project is in the works, Texas Veterans Legacy for Tomorrow, and will focus on veterans interred at all four Texas State Veterans Cemeteries to create educational resources for the public.
Arambula described this initiative as “like a Facebook page for a veteran who’s passed,” aiming to preserve their legacies. The project is being funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs and is led by Selber and Clary.
Van Diest added, “We are also developing educational resources, such as textbooks for K-12 teachers, to facilitate conversations about veterans in the classroom.”
Arambula also plans to collaborate with the University Writing Center to assist students in sharing their narratives. The team envisioned a future where they could continue publishing JIVE, maintaining its interactive elements and scholarship opportunities, even if funding changed.
“Texas State has created and nurtured a veteran community that embodies the camaraderie many veterans felt during active service, and that is not something to be taken lightly,” said Angela Kissel, doctoral student in the adult, professional, and community education program. “The support is always there and is much appreciated.”