MADISON— Marine veteran and advocate Yolanda Medina has been appointed to the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs. Medina currently serves as the director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center at UW-Milwaukee, supporting the largest population of military-connected students in the University of Wisconsin system.
The Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs is a nine-member, part-time citizen advisory board to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). It includes one representative from each of the state’s eight congressional districts and one at-large member. Medina will represent District 5 in southeast Wisconsin.
“Ask anyone and they will tell you, Yolanda is one of the hardest working advocates for veterans in Wisconsin today,” said WDVA Secretary James Bond. “She has made a career of making others feel welcome and building community. Her tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed by her peers across the state, and I’m proud to welcome another fellow Marine to the Board of Veterans Affairs.”
“I am delighted and humbled to be selected for this role,” said Medina. “It will be my honor to continue serving the veteran community of Wisconsin in this new capacity.”
Medina has been steadfast in her support for veterans in the Milwaukee area, focusing extensively on issues affecting Latino and women veterans, especially mental health and wellness. She was among the first Wisconsin women to share her story for the I Am Not Invisible campaign, which highlights the contributions and experiences of women veterans.
Medina has served on the boards of the Latino Veterans Legacy of Valor Organization, the American GI Forum, and Forward Latino, where she advised on Latinx veteran issues. Additionally, she contributed to the Southeastern Wisconsin Task Force on Veteran Suicide Prevention. Her efforts have been widely recognized, including being named Woman Veteran of the Year by the WDVA and Outstanding Woman of Color in Education by the Universities of Wisconsin.
