Six Emory veterans reflect on lessons learned in service

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Six Emory veterans reflect on lessons learned in service

November 11, 2026 Michelle Ricker

Each year, Emory hosts a Veterans Day ceremony on campus to honor those in our community who have served. Photo by Kay Hinton, Emory Photo/Video.

Veterans Day is a time for civilians to thank those who have served. For veterans, it's a time to reflect on the ways military service has shaped their lives.

Read on to learn the most valuable lessons six veterans across Emory learned during their time in the military.

Shondra Bell: Work together toward a common goal

Shondra Bell is now an associate program director at the Center for the Study of Human Health. Bell served as a Yeoman in the United States Navy, managing clerical and administrative tasks for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two.

"The military taught me the importance of working together toward a common goal, taking responsibility for my role and being flexible enough to adapt when things don't go as planned," Bell says. "These lessons continue to benefit me both personally and professionally."

Julius Mitchell: Invest in people first

Julius Mitchell is director of operational excellence at Emory Hospital Warner Robins and Emory Hospital Perry. Mitchell retired from the U.S. Army after more than 22 years. In that time, he served as a Chief Warrant Officer 4, Quartermaster Corps, Property Accounting Technician and Accountable Property Officer. He served across U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Special Operations Command Central, and U.S. Special Operations Command.

"The first Special Operations Forces Truth is 'Humans are more important than hardware,'" says Mitchell. "In the Army, I managed billions of dollars in equipment, but the mission never succeeded because of the equipment. It succeeded because of the people who trusted each other enough to speak up, help each other and do the hard things right.

"Invest in your people first. Listen to them, coach them and give them what they need to succeed, and the results will follow. That is just as true in a hospital as it was in the field."

Mark Nevitt: Get comfortable with uncertainty

Mark Nevitt is an associate professor at the Emory School of Law. He retired as a commander after 20 years of service in the Navy as a tactical jet aviator and a military attorney.

"Military life teaches you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable," Nevitt says. "Your next assignment arrives as 'orders,' which are exactly what they sound like: a directive to report to a specific place and job, often somewhere you never expected (I'm looking at you, Lemoore, California).

"But that uncertainty is part of the adventure. Wherever I went, from Europe to the Middle East to aircraft carriers at sea, I found a built-in community of terrific people ready to help. The military truly is a family, and that sense of belonging made every new assignment feel like an opportunity rather than a disruption."

Joe Rouse: The power of intrinsic motivation

Joe Rouse is a research scientist in the Suthar Lab at Emory Vaccine Center, who served in the Army as an E4 specialist, combat medic and paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne Division.

"The most valuable lesson I learned is the power of self-motivation," Rouse says. "My military service taught me how important it is to find the inner strength, courage and resilience needed to tackle heavy tasks, survive difficult situations and actively drive myself toward the goals I want to achieve in life."

Ellen Schimmels: Self-care matters

Ellen Schimmels is a clinical professor and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) faculty at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. She previously served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Nurse Corps. After the Army, she was program director for the PMHNP Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Uniformed Services University.

Schimmels says she's been inspired to be more vulnerable, including through a recent article detailing how, in Afghanistan, she put the mission ahead of everything - including a lump in her breast.

"I think it shows that self-sacrifice is not synonymous with strength. Dedication to others can become harmful when personal needs, health and well-being are consistently neglected," she says. "I also think that prioritizing your health is compatible with commitment, leadership and dedication to others. We can serve others without sacrificing ourselves."

Cliffton J. Wells: The impact of servant leadership

Cliffton J. Wells is an emergency management manager at Emory University Hospital Midtown. In the military, he served as a United States Air Force Master Sergeant, First Sergeant.

"One of the most impactful lessons I learned in the military is the principle of servant leadership," Wells says. "True leadership is not about rank or authority; it is about putting the needs of others first, empowering them to succeed, and helping them grow both personally and professionally. As a leader, I learned that the best way to earn trust and achieve a mission is by serving your team, removing obstacles and leading by example."

Emory's resources for veterans

Many resources are available to veterans across Emory University.

The Yellow Ribbon program supports post-9/11 veterans by providing funding to supplement educational expenses beyond what is covered by the G.I. Bill.

Army or Air Force ROTC are options for Emory undergraduate students interested in military careers. The cross-enrollment agreement with Georgia Tech allows students to complete their undergraduate degrees at Emory and military training at Georgia Tech.

Emory's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing participates in the Veterans Affairs Nursing Academic Partnership, an elite program through which undergraduate and graduate nursing students gain valuable training in providing quality healthcare for our nation's veterans.

Goizueta Business School offers an MBA program created specifically for military veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel. The program is designed to leverage management and leadership experience from the military and pair it with business knowledge that gets veterans up to speed and ahead of the curve for a successful career in the business world. By combining formal business knowledge with a transition and career development program, veterans discover the transferability of their military experience and skill sets, learn what it takes to launch and sustain a business, and leave with a career plan in hand.

Veteran employees across Emory University are welcome to participate in the Emory Veterans Employee Network (EVEN), designed to promote a sense of belonging among Emory veterans through organization, recognition, networking and resources.

The Emory Healthcare Veterans Program offers free, confidential mental healthcare to eligible post-9/11 veterans and service members across the United States, regardless of discharge status, deployment history or length of service. The program features a two-week intensive outpatient treatment program addressing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, anxiety and depression.

• 18th annual Emory Veterans Day ceremony to honor contributions of service members