LeNaya Hezel

Chief Programs Officer

LeNaya Hezel (she/her) serves as Warrior-Scholar Project’s Chief Programs Officer.

As a military spouse, LeNaya advocates for services and resources for the military-connected community that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. With over a decade of higher education experience serving underrepresented student populations, LeNaya collaborates with other members of the WSP team to cultivate inclusive educational programs that are accessible to any enlisted veteran pursuing an education and beyond.

LeNaya is a Ph.D. candidate in public sociology at George Mason University where her dissertation research focuses on how military-connected students accrue social and cultural capital in higher education. LeNaya is a 2021 Veterans Leadership Program scholar with the George W. Bush Institute and a Pat Tillman Foundation scholar.

While in coursework for her Ph.D. program, LeNaya founded NayceQuest, a DEI organizational strategy consulting company that guides organizations to go beyond one-and-done DEI training to embedding DEI practices in everyday interactions. Prior to her current role, she served as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at WSP. Previous to WSP, LeNaya served as the inaugural Veterans Office director at Georgetown University and a certifying official at George Washington University. She holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Maryland, College Park. LeNaya is a proud military spouse to a U.S. Navy officer and mother to three spirited children.