A Business Case | Nadia Giannopoulos | TEDxRiverOaks

They say all roads lead home, but what if that home doesn't quite recognize you anymore? As doctoral students, Dr. Giannopoulos and her colleague were tasked by a visionary general: make Tennessee a place where veterans don't just return, they thrive. This talk discusses ways to bridge the gap between service and civilian life, together. Dr. Nadia Giannopoulos is the Executive Director of MPC, a program servicing children and young adults with special needs. Her passion lies in advocating for policy reforms and their impact on student-approved services. Under her leadership, the program has expanded enrollment, servicing upwards of 400 students in all 5-boroughs and throughout Long Island.

Nadia majored in Communication Science and Disorders; she has an M.Ed. in Childhood Education/Special Education, and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Nadia completed a 21-credit program in Applied Behavior Analysis and Organizational Behavior Management. She received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University.

[reaganmosher]

I like this, it was easy to follow a subject I get lost in often

[xoxo_sushi]

Nice to hear that people are working on ways to support our vets!

[elainarogers]

Her point about wars being fought offshore really got me thinking. I realized I rarely even think about our troops overseas.

[natalemodesto]

her journey from knowing nothing about veterans' issues to becoming an advocate is inspiring. It shows that anyone can make a difference if they're willing to learn and put in the work. Makes me want to get more involved in my community.

[ihavebigpaws]

I love the idea of a national standard for military-friendly states. Would be cool to see a ranking system, like we have for colleges. Might motivate states to step up their game.

[jensjfriedemann]

Her dairy farm mixup was relatable - it's easy to live in our own bubbles sometimes.

[randipowers]

Bless this woman and all she's doing for the veterans.

[EvilHalt]

the 4-quadrant framework for veteran employment programs seems like a game changer. more companies should adopt it!

[tiphaineauguet]

Her point about identity reminds me of when I became a parent. Totally new role, felt lost at first. Must be similar for vets entering civilian life.

[luisasanchez]

I thought starting a new job was tough. can't imagine having to basically rebuild your whole identity. props to vets for dealing with that

[earlyeaston]

her passion really shone through. You can tell this isn't just an academic exercise for them. It's personal. That kind of dedication is what drives real change.

[caligsimpson]

Kudos to her for taking on this challenge as a doctoral student. That's some impressive initiative.

[faisalshaob]

Loved the call to action at the end. Made me realize I can't just sit back and expect others to solve this problem. Gonna look into volunteer opportunities in my area this weekend.

[TheRubenZepeda]

I think she makes some great points about the need for civilians to develop better cultural competency. We all have room to grow.

[candicetriley]

love the idea of making tennessee the most veteran friendly state! let's make it happen

[charlesdonstand]

Kudos to the speaker for tackling such a massive issue. Breaking it down into manageable chunks makes it seem less overwhelming. Wonder how long it'll take to see real change though.

[jessiedallen]

Appreciated her honesty about their initial ignorance. It's a reminder that we all have blind spots, and it's okay to admit them. First step to solving any problem is acknowledging it exists.

[shoelessjoe]

I served 4 years and can confirm - the transition is TOUGH. Wish I had access to some of the resources she mentioned.

[jeanetteward]

The point she makes about wars being fought offshore and how that leads to society forming a disconnect with the experiences a veteran has was super interesting. I've never thought about it but it's true, we have no idea what things are like for them.

[marianaattentio]

As someone with family in the military, I can relate to a lot of what she said. My cousin struggled for months after leaving the service, bouncing between odd jobs. It's tough to watch someone who served our country struggle like that. I'm glad people are working on solutions.