Faculty & Staff Caucuses
Virginia Tech has ten faculty/staff caucuses representing differing communities at the university.
See information below on faculty/staff caucuses, or contact Michele C. Deramo, Ph.D. at Deramo@vt.edu.
Mission Statement
The Indigenous Alliance at Virginia Tech seeks to empower all Indigenous staff, faculty, and students on campus and in the New River Valley. We define Indigenous to broadly include all original peoples from around the globe, especially those in Turtle Island and Abya Yala (what is now called "the Americas"). Virginia Tech is a land grant university on Monacan land, and we are therefore committed to supporting the Monacan Nation and other Yesa (Eastern Siouan) peoples. Our goals are to:
- Ensure Virginia Tech promotes and furthers Yesa history, language, and culture.
- Create supportive and welcoming spaces for Indigenous staff, faculty, and students.
- Foster and promote strong relationships between the Indigenous Alliance at Virginia Tech and Ati: Wa:oki, the Indigenous Community Center.
- Care for the Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech
- Ensure all Indigenous voices are represented in university programming.
- Foster the development of positive and lasting collaboration between Virginia Tech and Virginia Indigenous Nations.
- Engage Indigenous peoples, especially youth, in pathways that might lead to future studies at Virginia Tech.
- Representing the Indigenous community on campus in matters of university governance.
- Recruitment and retention of Indigenous graduate students, staff, and faculty by advocating for resources.
Co-Chair: Edward Polanco (polanco@vt.edu)
Co-Chair: Barbara Lockee (lockeebb@vt.edu)
CCC for AIIPA
Vice Chair of CEOD: Melissa Faircloth (missy86@vt.edu)
This caucus convenes to discuss Appalachian campus experiences and issues and is open to all faculty, staff, and graduate students.
Co-Chairs:
Brandy Renee McCann (bmccann@vt.edu)
Jessica McMillan (jbatymcmillan@vt.edu)
Mission Statement
To serve as an advocacy and support group for faculty and staff at Virginia Tech who self-identify as Asian broadly defined, including Southeast Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, mixed-race Asian, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Central Asian; do work pertinent to Asian/Asian American communities; and/or are interested in participating in conversations relevant to those who identify as Asian/Asian American. The caucus functions as a liaison to the university community on issues relevant to Asians and Asian Americans, and is committed to supporting Asian/Asian American students at Virginia Tech.
- Co-chair (external affairs): Vincent Wang (vmwang@vt.edu)
- Co-chair (internal affairs): Theo Lim (tclim@vt.edu)
- Community organizing officer: Kang Xia (kxia@vt.edu)
- Publicity and social media officer: Michelle Soledad (msoled21@vt.edu)
- Treasurer: Jim Tokuhisa (tokuhisa@vt.edu)
- Graduate student liaison: Gia Ha (giaha@vt.edu) and Michelle Ausman
CCC for AIIPA
Nina Ha (nha@vt.edu)
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Black Faculty/Staff caucus shall be to promote the well being of Black faculty, staff and students of Virginia Tech; to assertively push for the recruitment of Black faculty, staff and students; to assist in the recruitment and retention of Black undergraduate and graduate students at Virginia Tech; to encourage equitable utilization of Black faculty, staff and students throughout the university community; to be a liaison between the Black faculty, staff and students and the university administration; and to organize and maintain a support network for Black faculty, staff and students at Virginia Tech.
To receive important information about events, meetings, and community happenings, please join the Black Faculty/Staff Listserv. You may Email Us your request.
- President, Kory Trott (ktrott@vt.edu)
- Vice President, Eric Glenn (ericzg9@vt.edu)
- Secretary, DeAnna Katey (deannep@vt.edu)
- Treasurer, Patrick Wallace (patrickw21@vt.edu)
Instagram: @vtblackcaucus
Twitter: @VTBlackCaucus
CCC for Black Caucus of Virginia Tech
Kimberly Clark-Shaw | kdcshaw@vt.edu
Mission Statement
The Disability Alliance at VT is a Registered Student Organization which contains a Faculty/Staff Disability Caucus. This is a space for disabled Virginia Tech community members and their allies to come together and engage in community building, mutual support, and disability activism. The Disability Alliance at VT is a Registered Student Organization which contains a Faculty/Staff Disability Caucus. This is a space for disabled Virginia Tech community members and their allies to come together and engage in community building, mutual support, and disability activism. As a cross-disability organization, we celebrate the diversity of disability experiences. We welcome those with mental illnesses, developmental, intellectual, and learning disabilities, chronic illnesses, and/or other hidden disabilities. We acknowledge the validity of both self and professional forms of diagnoses, and we won’t ask you to prove your identities. We hope to create a diverse group which honors the varied and multiple identities disabled people and their allies may hold.
- Co-Chair: Elizabeth McLain (emclain@vt.edu)
- Co-Chair: Roan Parrish (proan13@vt.edu)
- Treasurer/Secretary: Paige Van de Vuurst (pvandevuurst@vt.edu)
Facebook: facebook.com/disabilityalliancevt
Twitter: @DAatVT
Google Listserv: https://bit.ly/1KYXCAP
Mission Statement
The Hispanic and Latino Faculty Staff Caucus (the Hispanic Caucus) collaborates with the University Administration for the recruitment and retention of Hispanic/Latino faculty, staff, and students.
We also support community efforts that commemorate the diverse cultures in this region. The Caucus aims to enhance the quality of education and life for all faculty, staff and students at Virginia Tech and residents in surrounding communities.
- Leadership Board: Carlos Evia (cevia@vt.edu)
- Leadership Board: Michael Walsh (mdwalsh9@vt.edu)
- Leadership Board: Claudia Brodkin (clbrodki@vt.edu)
CCC for Hispanic & Latinx Faculty & Staff Caucus
Veronica Montes | vmontes@vt.edu
Mission Statement
- The LGBTQ+ Caucus at Virginia Tech is committed to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families. The caucus seeks to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals both at the University and in the New River Valley community through educational programming, social activities, public service, and outreach.
- Together with our allies, we strive to share information and initiate progressive community change as we visibly work for social justice and human rights
Co-Chair: Jes Davis (jesdavis@vt.edu)
CEOD Rep: John Gray Williams (jghokie@vt.edu)
Listserv: lgbtqcaucus-g@vt.edu
Twitter: @LGBTQCaucusVT
CCC for LGBTQ+ Caucus
Bing: (anbingham@vt.edu)
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Veterans Caucus is to improve the working, learning, and living environment for employee and student veterans; advocate for the mentoring of and transitional support for veterans returning to work and/or school and recommend actions to improve the recruitment and retention of employee and student veterans.
- Chair: Juan Cordero-Sierra (cordero@vt.edu)
- Vice Chair: Elvis Rosario (elvis66@vt.edu)
- Secretary: Janette Moser Moore (moorejm@vt.edu)
Mission Statement
- In the spirit of Ut Prosim, the Virginia Tech Women's Alliance champions an equitable and inclusive culture.
- The Women's Alliance, in solidarity with caucuses and other university and community allies, provides the Virginia Tech community a forum to achieve shared goals and promote opportunities for underrepresented groups, which includes women of all identities by advancing:
- Dialogue among the Women's Alliance and the university community
- Campus services and programs that address the needs of women
- Efforts to remove systemic barriers to advancement
- Equity in hiring, promotion, and compensation
- Mentoring and networking opportunities
- Access to quality childcare for university employees and students
- Positive and inclusive campus climate
- Identification and resolution of campus equity and safety issues
Contact: Erica Cooper (efcooper@vt.edu)