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VirTual Safe Zone Alumni

Safe Zone placards (or proof of completion) have historically been utilized as a “one and done” display of allyship i.e. “I am now a safe zone.” While it would be ideal that such a training could accomplish this, we cannot and do not make such a claim. VirTual Safe Zone facilitators can only vouch that an individual has completed the readings, done the work, and earned credit for their efforts. It is our hope that all participants will learn, grow, and implement what they have learned into their day-to-day efforts. Safe Zone trainings are a starting point. There are always more voices to hear and more viewpoints to consider.

It is our aim to make “former Safe Zone participant” and “continuously informed and active ally” synonymous identities. The following individuals have completed 15+ weeks of VirTual Safe Zone trainings and are a vital party of making Virginia Tech a more welcoming and affirming space.

Name Title
Leanna Blevins Associate Vice President for Health Sciences, Academic Affairs
Emily Holt Foerst Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Rebecca Langford Graduate Program Coordinator
Veronica Van Montfrans Associate Director, Translational Biology, Medicine and Health Graduate Program
Angelica Witcher Assistant Dean, Student Vitality
Alexandria Pilot Assistant Director of Operations, Center for Neurobiology Research
Leanne Brownlee-Bower Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
Jeannine Eddleton Senior Instructor, Chemistry
James Kittinger Executive Assistant, VTCSOM Faculty Affairs
Brian Strahm Professor, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Alison Sibol Professional Lecturer, Mathematics
Eli Jamison Asst Professor of Practice, Management
Anne Ronan Assistant Professor, School of Visual Arts
Jessica Crawford Grants and Contracts Officer, Vet Med Office of Research and Graduate Studies
Annie Laib Jenkins Assistant Director, Career and Professional Development
Amy Kokkinakos Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Chemistry
Sarah Hoyle Martin Graduate Student Coordinator, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Gates Palisserty Graduate Student, Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health
Craig Arthur Community Engagement Coordinator, University Libraries
Casey Anne Brimmer Graduate Teaching Assistant, ASPECT Program
Nina Ha Director, APIDA + Center
Jess Hoopengardner Director for Inclusion and Diversity, College of Science
Jess Silvia Program Director, Lavender House
Christina Minford Professional Undergraduate Adivsor, Psychology
Kevin McGuire Professor, Water Resources Research Center
Katlyn Griffin Teaching and Learning Engagement Librarian, University Libraries
Benjamin Gill Associate Professor, Geosciences
James Tuttle Associate Director of Data Application in Research, University Libraries
Brianne Merchant Assistant Director of Academic Integrity
Victoria Lael Instructor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Human Development and Family Science
Rosanna Breaux Professor, Psychology
Elisabeth Austin Associate Professor, Modern and Classical Languages
Jus Tupik Graduate Research Assistant, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Christina McCuen Project Assistant, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Tammy Trimble Research Scientist, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Haleigh Wallace Assistant Director, Pride Center
Sebastian Harlow Receptionist, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Leslie Stevens Program Director, Faculty Affairs
Brianna Posadas Postdoctoral Associate, School of Plant and Environmental Science
Meredith Massman Civil Rights Investigator, Office for Equity and Accessibility
Lester Schonberger Senior Research Associate, Food Science and Technology
Betty Wilkins Graduate Program Coordinator, Physics
Kelli Karcher Instructor, Mathematics
Amy McPherson Senior Associate Director, Career and Professional Development
Mary Songster-Alpin Clinical Assistant Professor, Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Anne Hall Project Assistant, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Keely Arbenz-Smith Residential Well-Being Coordinator
Samantha Brodie Administrative Support Specialist, Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance
Dana McGuire Academic Advisor, College of Natural Resourcs and Environment
Steven Stapleton Research Associate, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Joe Wilder Coordinator of Academic Integrity
Jessica Whisenhunt Administrative Assistant, Student Success Center