Women Veterans

IDVA is committed to supporting the unique challenges and opportunities of women veterans. Our developing program is designed to provide women veterans access to services and resources and to build a community of strong women with shared experience.

Click here ( Female VSO Support Request ) to have a VSO contact you.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and the USDVA Women’s Health Department partnered to select 25 Illinois Women Veterans Leaders of 2026. Women veterans were nominated for their extraordinary leadership, contributions, and commitment to the women veteran community. The 25 women veterans were honored at a luncheon at Malcolm X College on March 16^th. The program included remarks by IDVA Director Terry Prince and a keynote address from Ashley Tuburan, U.S. Navy veteran, attorney, and founder of DONUT MESS WITH HER, LLC.

“The women selected were among an impressive collection of nominees,” said Director Terry Prince. “Each woman veteran has identified unmet needs and challenges and bravely approached them with innovation and determination, resulting in a profound impact on the community.”

To view the honree's biographies for the 25 in 2026 Women Veterans Leaders event, select the honoree from the list below.

If you would like to see the honorees from the previous year (2025), you may view them from the Past Illinois Women Veteran Leaders page.