Meghan Wagner’s (BSHEB ‘09) passion for caring for military service members runs deep, rooted in her own experience as a military family member. Having witnessed first-hand the commitment and resilience that service members bring with them to the job day in and day out, Wagner has always felt a deep sense of commitment to caring for members of our armed forces. 

For the last 13 years, Wagner has been working for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a nonprofit that serves wounded veterans who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound co-incident to their military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Her journey with WWP started in 2011, when she began working with the organization’s Soldier Ride, a bicycle riding event that encourages veterans to build up their confidence and strength while building bonds in a supportive environment. Wagner’s first role involved bringing and fitting participants into their equipment. She was later promoted to a manager role to oversee the regional team. Over the years, she advanced in WWP to become the Physical Health and Wellness Regional Director covering the Southeast region, focusing on chronic disease prevention and pain management for the aging demographic. In 2022, she stepped into her current role as Physical Health and Wellness Director, where she now oversees program development and core initiatives across all regions nationwide.

Even though she was unsure on what she wanted to pursue after college, she was confident in her passion for health education and bettering the lives of others.

“I always wanted to go to a big school like UF that has so much culture and tradition to it. Despite having a large value and priority in athletics, academics was really where my goals were,” Wagner said. “I loved everything about the university and the opportunities to explore, learn and connect with other students.”

Upon graduation, she worked at Santa Fe College before learning about Soldier Ride. This opportunity presented a chance to combine her degree and passion for the military. By combining both passions, she found her perfect match.

“I would advise students to follow their passion, find a career that means something to them and ask for help if they get stuck,” Wagner said.

As a seasoned professional and UF alumni, Wagner advises students to stay curious, ask, explore, seek mentorship, and find something that has personal purpose or meaning. Following her heart, she feels fulfilled in her career.

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