Tillman Scholars in the News

We’re proud of these Tillman Scholars for continuing to make an impact on their communities. Read on to see how they continue to lead through action.

Jason Poudrier, 2018 Tillman Scholar 

Jason Poudrier has been appointed the City of Lawton’s Arts and Humanities Division Administrator. With a passion for connecting veterans to the arts, Jason wants to utilize this position to promote a diverse and inclusive community.

As a member of the United States Army, Jason witnessed the reality of starving children in Iraq, experienced personal injury and the loss of his fellow soldiers.He found solace in literature and creative writing classes during his time at Cameron University.Pursuing a doctorate in education at the University of Oklahoma, Jason seeks to increase his network and gain the knowledge and expertise to design quality writing curricula and create a global coalition of artists to connect children, veterans and others affected by war to share their experiences. 

Emma Tyano, 2020 Tillman Scholar

Emma Tyano published an article as the first author in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services on a mobile integrated health (MIH) program. Emma aims to analyze the evidence base to support the growth of other MIH emergency medical system programs,  contributing to further development and expansion of this innovative care model.

Emma developed a passion for emergency nursing and disaster response through her experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso, as well as working for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. As a part of a special CDC Ebola response deployment, Emma travelled to West Africa, further igniting her passion. Now with her doctor of nursing practice, Emma works at Yale University as part of an advanced practice provider post-graduate training program in emergency medicine. 

Seth Kastle, 2016 Tillman Scholar 

Seth Kastle published a research article in the Teacher-Scholar Journal. Seth’s article, Supporting the Student Service Member and Veteran Population as Learners, explores best practices in student services for student service members and veterans learners at a state comprehensive university.

Seth enlisted in the Army halfway through his senior year of high school in 1998, not realizing at the time it would be one of the most impactful decisions of his life. Upon his return from his second deployment, Seth struggled and admitted he was in denial of problems related to PTSD. In 2011, Seth sought help for himself and his family. His growth and passion led him to write the children’s book Why is Dad So Mad? A Book About PTSD and Military Families, as well as joining the Department of Leadership Studies at Fort Hays State University. 

Jayme Hentig, 2020 Tillman Scholar 

Jayme Hentig published two scientific articles related to his research on blunt force injury and cognitive assessment in adult zebrafish. 

Serving as an airborne combat medic, Jayme witnessed and treated numerous traumatic brain injuries, as well as suffering from one himself. These experiences became the catalyst for Jayme to pursue a career and passion in neuroscience. As a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Notre Dame, Jayme developed a novel blunt-force TBI model in regenerative zebrafish allowing for the examination of both the injury and the regenerative recovery. His work has been nationally recognized by the National Science Foundation, and he aims to further understand the complex gene regulation providing a potential neuroprotective and regenerative therapeutic to at-risk populations such as service members.

Stephanie Erwin, 2019 Tillman Scholar

Stephanie Erwin wrote a review of “The Grit Factor” for Strategy Bridge. On top of her review of the book on gender and leadership roles, Stephanie also accepted a permanent faculty position with the Air Command and Staff College as an assistant professor and the chief of institutional effectiveness.

Stephanie grew up aspiring to join military service; after the events of 9/11, her decision to do so was reaffirmed. Upon enlisting in the U.S. Navy, Stephanie became a naval pilot, serving for 11 years of active duty on every continent. Her commitment to continued education motivated her to receive her M.A. in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School as well as her Ed.D. in human organizational leadership and learning from the George Washington University. Stephanie aims to continue her own research and advocacy centered on issues surrounding the military and veterans, while educating the next generation of researchers.