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Kayla Owen MBA ’25 appointed to Virginia Board of Veterans Services

by Staff |  August 11, 2025

Governor Glenn Youngkin recently appointed Kayla Owen, a William & Mary MBA student at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, to the Virginia Board of Veterans Services (BVS).

Owen’s appointment signals a broader shift in Virginia’s commitment to veterans, their families and associated policies. Traditionally, only military veterans served on the BVS. Owen never served in uniform. Instead, Owen, as a child, spouse, sibling, advocate, and caregiver to several generations of veterans throughout her life, brings a unique perspective to the BVS of supporting and advocating for those who have served and continue to serve in our military.

Owen is a respected advocate and co-founder of Friends of VMSDEP, spearheading one of Virginia’s most impactful grassroots policy victories. Her leadership and dedicated advocacy led to the full repeal of proposed budget cuts to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), protecting access to education benefits for more than 10,000 children and spouses of severely disabled or fallen veterans in 2024.

Her focus on bringing diverse voices to the table reflects a larger vision of ensuring that policies built for military families are shaped by those directly affected by them. Owen views her role as part of a broader effort to ensure families — especially spouses, dependents, and survivors — are seen as essential contributors to veteran policy and care.

Owen’s appointment comes at a time when William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business is expanding its own commitment to military spouses and dependents, recognizing them as strategic stakeholders. Through initiatives like the Center for Military Transition and the Empowering Military Spouses Symposium held in June 2025, the Mason School is helping to reframe the national conversation about military-connected leadership and policy. The School’s mission closely aligns with Owen’s own focus on strengthening representation for dependents and survivors — a challenge she has explored through her Online MBA program as her “wicked problem.”

Professor Dawn Edmiston, Clinical Professor of Marketing and a faculty mentor to Owen, praised her accomplishments.

“Kayla represents the very best of William & Mary. She brings passion, integrity, and a powerful voice to those who are often overlooked,” Edmiston said. “It’s no surprise that she’s been appointed to serve at the state level—her leadership and empathy are exactly what our military veterans need and deserve.”

The Virginia Board of Veterans Services advises the Governor and General Assembly on policies affecting more than 700,000 veterans and their families. Governor Youngkin also appointed the following individuals to the Board:

  • Dr. Claudia Flores of New Kent, President, Chimney Trail Foundation
  • Dr. Vanessa Gattis of Woodbridge, President & CEO, Prince William County Community Foundation
  • Matthew Miller of Arlington, Director of Veterans & Military Family Engagement, Oracle
  • Jeri D. Prophet of Virginia Beach, CEO, IntellecTechs, Inc.

Owen’s appointment not only ensures that veteran families have a seat at the table, it also reflects a growing recognition that these voices are essential to shaping the future of veteran policy in Virginia and beyond.