Photo: Chelsi Dennis Photography

Military psychologist Melissa Fuller Woods ’11 focuses on the mental wellness and readiness of service members.

When she chose to pursue a career in psychology, Melissa Fuller Woods ’11 never expected it would lead her to the Air Force. Her doctoral program required an internship, and in her research, she discovered a military opportunity that intrigued her.

“I wanted to push myself to learn as much as I could,” she says. “I associated the military with trauma work and knew it would be a challenge. I knew that military service members and veterans face unique challenges that pose a threat to their well-being, and I wanted to learn targeted interventions to assist individuals in overcoming traumatic experiences.”

Woods credits her ambition and drive for excellence to Professor Sue Ellen Henry P’22, education. “She made me feel like I could do great things,” she says. “Sue Ellen planted the seed that I could be a subject matter expert and that I should push for it.”

Today, she is a military psychologist in Oklahoma City, Okla., where she oversees two programs. The first, the Family Advocacy Program (FAP), handles all allegations of adult and child maltreatment. FAP offers a range of services, including therapeutic interventions for victims and abusers, victim advocacy, prevention-based nursing for families with young children and classes focused on healthy relationships, interpersonal skills and parenting. The second, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, manages referrals for substance use-related concerns and provides tailored treatment and coordinating prevention services.

“We are patient centered in providing therapeutic services to our service members to promote wellness and well-being,” she says. “We ensure medical readiness, which means ensuring service members are mentally fit to perform their duties.”

When she isn’t running these programs, Woods works as an embedded psychologist on the Operational Support Team, working alongside a physical therapist, athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach. Together, they take a holistic approach to supporting service members’ mental and physical well-being. Woods focuses on creating regimens to improve group cohesion, cultivate strong health habits and enhance the ability to manage stress, conflict, adversity and personal challenges.

“Our goal is to address issues early before they develop into more long-term problems,” she says. “It is an honor serving the military community and having the opportunity to be a part of and see the difference that medical specialties make in real time.”