Staff Bios
Dennis O. May, currently serving as Acting Executive Director was assigned as Deputy Director, Center for Minority Veterans in October 2017. He previously served as Director, Veterans Employment Coordination Service, Deputy Director, Veteran Employment Services Office and Deputy Director, Central Office Human Resources Service.
Mr. May came to VA after a successful career in the Air Force, where he retired in the grade of Colonel, in 2007. He was commissioned in 1981 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Arkansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Strayer University. He is also a 2013 graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society.
While on active duty, Mr. May held a variety of key assignments in administration, manpower and personnel career fields. He served on the Air Staff, at Joint Commands and at Major Command levels. He commanded the 17th Mission Support Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, which was twice named best mission support squadron in Air Education and Training Command. He served in the Pentagon as Director of the Headquarters Air Force Executive Secretariat, as well as Chief of Personnel Issues for the Secretary of the Air Force’s Executive Issues Team.
Mr. May’s military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also earned “Best in the Air Force” recognition as Air Force Senior Personnel Manager of the year for 2000.
Mr. May is a Life Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He’s also the recipient of the 2013 University of Arkansas Distinguished Alumni Citation. He and his wife, Teresa are the parents of three adult daughters.
Denise Wright, currently serving as Acting Deputy Director was assigned as the Senior Program Analyst, Center for Minority Veterans in August 2015. Prior to coming to VA, Ms. Wright was with U.S. Department of State as the Veterans Employment Outreach Program Manager.
Ms. Wright received a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, as well a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Human Resources Management from University of Maryland. Ms. Wright is a Veteran of the first Gulf War. She retired from the United States Army where she received numerous awards and decorations, to include Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Multinational Force and Observers Medal and Air Assault Badge.
As the Minority Veterans Program Coordinators (MVPCs) Program Manager, she manages a cadre of 280 MVPCs — VA employees who are appointed this collateral duty by the facility Director in each Administration throughout VA. She provides guidance in identifying methods best practices and opportunities which highlight and increase awareness of VA benefits to minority Veterans.
As the African American Veterans Liaison, Ms. Wright serves as an advocate to the minority Veterans population. Specifically, by exploring opportunities to establish partnerships with Veterans’ service organizations and affinity groups with comparable goals.
Juanita J. Mullen joined the Center for Minority Veterans and Center for Women Veterans in October 2004. She serves as the American Indian Veterans Liaison for both centers. As Liaison for the American Indian Veteran’s community, she is constantly engaged in different events that promote cultural diversity. She also identifies issues that effect American Indian Veterans. She is a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians (Keeper of the Western Door), Cattaraugus Indian Reservation located in western New York.
Ms. Mullen retired from the Air Force in 2000, after 20 years of service. Half of her career was spent serving under Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe. She has received numerous medals to include the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Upon retirement, she was hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. She worked as a Self Determination Specialist in Contracts & Grants with the Eastern Regional Office, Education Specialist with the South Eastern States Agency (SESA), and as an Administrative Officer for Budget Management at the Department of Interior.
Ms. Mullen has a Master of Science Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from University of Maryland, and an Associates Degree in Transportation from the Community College of the Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama.
Mr. Sagudan joined the Center for Minority Veterans as a Program Analyst in April 2007. He serves as the Center’s Veteran Liaison for the Asian American /Pacific Islander American Veterans’ community. As Liaison for the Asian American/Pacific Islander American Veteran’s community, he is constantly engaged in different events that promote cultural diversity. He also identifies issues that effect Asian American/Pacific Islander American.
Before coming to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Sagudan worked for several healthcare organizations prior to joining the Center. These agencies include: Integrated Health Services, Inc., The American Red Cross, and HCIA-Sachs, and Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic. Mr. Sagudan is the son of retired United States Navy Vietnam Veteran, the nephew of Philippines Scout, and grandson was a World War II Filipino Veteran. He has been an active member of several organizations in the Asian American/Pacific Islander community.
Mr. Sagudan has a Bachelors of Science degree in Health Science from Towson State University, and is working on his Graduate Certificate in Health Information Systems at George Mason University.
Mr. Campbell joined the Center for Minority Veterans (CMV) as a program Analyst in November 2009. He serves as the Center’s Veteran Liaison for the Hispanic American Veterans’ community. As Liaison for the Hispanic American Veteran’s community, he is constantly engaged in different events that promote cultural diversity. He also identifies issues that are unique and affect the Hispanic American Veteran community.
Prior to joining the Center, Mr. Campbell was a Health Insurance Specialist at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Campbell served as CMS; Veterans outreach coordinator, the National Medicare Education Program coordinator and co-coordinator for the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education. He was awarded the CMS Administrator Achievement Award for outstanding support during Medicare’s Part D first open enrollment campaign.
Mr. Campbell worked as a Staff Officer II in the Office of the Governor, Mississippi Division of Medicaid. In this capacity he assisted the Deputy Executive Director for Administration in developing general Medicaid policies and guidelines that had significant statewide impact. In addition, he served on active duty in the Army for nine years and is a Desert Storm Veteran.
Mr. Campbell earned his Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications at Jackson State University.
D’Andrea “Dee” Jacobs, a Dallas native, joined the VA and Center for Minority Veterans (CMV) as a Program Support Assistant in May 2016. She then accepted a position as Program Analyst – Hispanic Veterans Liaison in October 2017. Prior to joining the Center, she served on active duty in the United States Air Force for 15 years. She enlisted as a computer systems Program Manager and later cross-trained to become a Medical Laboratory Science technician.
She has received her Associate’s in Information Systems Management and Associate’s in Clinical Laboratory Science from the Community College of the Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama. She has a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences from University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at UMGC. Her military decorations include: Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.
Carl B. McPherson Jr. joined the Center for Minority Veterans (CMV) as a Program Support Assistant in March 2018. Prior to joining the Center, Mr. McPherson was a warehouse supervisor for the Property Management Division at the Department of Veteran Affairs. Mr. McPherson came to the VA after serving in the U.S. Air Force for 13 years, separating in 2008. His military achievements include AF Outstanding Unit Award with 4 oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, and a Global War on Terrorism medal. He has received his Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Northern Virginia Community College and is currently in pursuit of his Bachelor’s Degree.
