Dr. Edward Polanco

Yek Tunal! (Good day) My name is Dr. Polanco and I was born in Los Angeles, CA though my family and ancestors are from Kuskatan (Western and Central El Salvador).  Both of my parents walked to what is now called the United States in the 70's and I grew up speaking Spanish in a community that had immigrants from various parts of Mesoamerica. I am a student of Nawat (my ancestral language), and a scholar of Nahua peoples in what is today called Mexico and Central America. I am a first-generation college graduate, and I am presently an assistant professor in the Department of History at Virginia Tech. I am deeply committed to empowering Indigenous students and communities in all of Turtle Island and Abya Yala (also known as "the Americas")  and I look forward to helping you all make your way to college

Dr. Melissa Faircloth  

Melissa Faircloth began directing the Indigenous Community Center in November of 2018. Along with supporting the Indigenous student community, she plans and coordinates Native and Indigenous Heritage month, Indigenous Peoples’ Day programs, and powwow. Originally from North Carolina, she is an enrolled member of the Coharie tribal community. She earned a Bachelors in Business and a Masters in Sociology from East Carolina University. She completed her doctoral degree in sociology at Virginia Tech. Her research examines the intersections of campus climate and institutional support for Native students.

Dr. Donna Westfall-Rudd

Hello, I'm Dr. Donna Westfall-Rudd, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education where my work focuses on teaching and mentoring future agriculture and food system educators. My passion is work with others to ensure all are welcome and feel included in educational programs.

I grew up on a small family livestock farm in rural New York where I raised sheep. I enjoyed being a part of  4-H and being a member of our school band.

Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, I was a secondary agricultural education teacher in a rural community in upstate New York, about an hour south of Canada. I also served as the state coordinator for agricultural education in New York for ten years.

I am very excited to help with our new summer program and look forward to getting to know all of you. As a faculty member I have the unique opportunity to live in O'Shaughnessy Hall, where the participants in this program will be staying during the week on campus. I can't wait to share the campus community with all of you!

Bryce Burrell

Halito, Sv hohchifo yvt Bryce Alexander Burrell. Mississippi Chahta sia hoke. (Hello, My name is Bryce Alexander Burrell. I am a proud member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and a descendant of the African Diaspora.) What I call home is Fauquier County in the northwestern region of Virginia. I am a current Agricultural Leadership and Community Education Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech. I have a Bachelor's in Individualized Studies in Engineering Technologies at Virginia State University (2020) and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Technologies at Virginia Tech (2022). I am the current president of Native@VT and the current Student Representative for The Indigenous Alliance at Virginia Tech. I have been a proud member of AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) since 2021. 

Working under the Garden Caretaker, I work to help manage the Indigenous Community Garden alongside coordinating research. My research on the further development of community gardens for marginalized communities and revolving programming around Indigenous foodways with the incorporation of digital technologies like LiDar scanning, mixed reality (Augmented and Virtual Reality), and 3d printing. In my free time, I like doing other outdoor activities like running, foraging, and fishing with my family. I love cooking and baking, especially using foods that I grew and foraged. I also love to do a lot of woodworking crafts like making bowls, sculptures, and Kapucha (stickball sticks). Yakoke Fehna Hoke! (Thank you so much!)

Rugiyatu Kane

Rugiyatu Kane is a doctoral student in the department of Agricultural Leadership and Community Education at Virginia Tech. Her current research interests include positive youth development, international education and urban agriculture. With a professional background in K-12 education, Rugi has taught critical thinking and research to high school students at the Senegalese American Bilingual School in Dakar, Senegal. She holds a Masters in Sustainable Development Practice from the University of Florida, and a Bachelors in Environmental Studies from Spelman College. Apart from academics, Rugi is passionate about yoga, and enjoys traveling, art, and cooking.

Anahí Sanchez-Moya

Hello everyone! My name is Anahí Sanchez-Moya, I was born and raised in the Northern Virginia area (shoutout to the DMV). I'm Hispanic/Latina, a daughter of immigrants with Indigenous roots, specifically Quechua from Bolivia (the Andes).

At Virginia Tech, I'm a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Political Science with a minor in Spanish. I’m a proud member of Native@VT and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). During this past semester, I served as a Peer-Mentor at the Ati: Wa:Oki Indigenous Community Center (one of my favorite places on campus). Outside of academics you will most likely find me watching movies (romance or thriller), going to Virginia Tech events with friends, exploring Blacksburg, VA, and helping the Indigenous Community Garden.

This summer, I’m most excited about getting the privilege to know each and every one of you. I cannot wait to get started! Please feel free to reach out to me or others if you have any questions or concerns. But for now, get pumped, get loud, and get excited. This will be a great summer (I can already tell)!