SIUE’s Reinhardt Named Among Illinois’ 25 Women Veteran Leaders of 2026

SIUE's Reinhardt Named Among Illinois' 25 Women Veteran Leaders of 2026

Telisha Reinhardt, assistant director of Military and Veteran Services (MAVS) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is one of the 25 Illinois Women Veteran Leaders of 2026 recognized by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and the USDVA Women's Health Department at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

On March 16, the honorees were celebrated at a luncheon held at Malcolm X College in Chicago. Women veterans from across the state were nominated by their peers for their phenomenal leadership, contributions and their commitment to the women veteran community.

"I feel blessed to be recognized as one of the 25 Illinois Women Veteran Leaders of 2026 and to have my name among the outstanding awardees," Reinhardt said. "I'm humbled to know that those around me recognize and appreciate the work I do for military-connected students."

Reinhardt is a U.S. Navy veteran who has been a part of SIUE's Military and Veteran Services office since November 2020.

For Reinhardt, the work is personal with the major driving factor-her own experience transitioning out of the military life.

"As a veteran, I want to provide support and assistance for students that I did not receive when I transitioned out of the Navy and back into the civilian world," she said. "One thing I always say is that this current generation of veterans has more resources available than any generation before them, but they are the most disconnected from and uneducated about those resources. I want to help close that gap, even just a little bit, here at SIUE."

IDVA Director Terry Prince echoed the significance of the honorees' work. "Each woman veteran has identified unmet needs and challenges and bravely approached them with innovation and determination, resulting in a profound impact on the community," Prince said.

Reinhardt played a key role in introducing the Wounded Warrior Project in the Southern Illinois region-a collaboration which marked a significant expansion of veteran resources available through SIUE.

Reinhardt also credited the mentors and colleagues whose guidance shaped her work-Amanda Depew with Illinois Joining Forces, Kevin Wathen, Interim Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, Jess Ray, Registrar of Illinois State University (Retired) and Traci Woolfolk (Retired) and Xanthe Emerick in the SIUE Transfer Center.

"Without the support of mentors and colleagues like these, I would not have been able to achieve all that I have in Military and Veteran Services," Reinhardt shared. "I truly thank them for the guidance and support."

Photos: (L-R) Margo Watson, IDVA's Senior Women Veteran Program Manager; Ashley Tuburan, U.S. Navy veteran and attorney; Telisha Reinhardt, Assistant Director of SIUE's Military and Veteran Services and Terry Prince, Director of IDVA

25 IL Women Veteran Leaders of 2026 Cohort