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 Caucus at Virginia Tech is composed of faculty and staff and its mission is to empower and advocate for Indigenous staff, faculty, and students at Virginia Tech. We define Indigenous to broadly include all original peoples around the globe whose ancestors have ties to the land they occupy, or were disposed from, since time immemorial, especially those in Turtle Island and Abya Yala (what is now called "the Americas"). Virginia Tech is a land grant university on Monacan/Tutelo land, and we are therefore committed to supporting the Monacan Nation and other Yesa (Eastern Siouan) peoples. Our goals are to:
- Create a supportive and welcoming campus community for Indigenous staff and faculty.
- Representing and amplifying the Indigenous voices on campus in matters of university governance and programming.
- Help recruit and retain Indigenous graduate students, staff, and faculty by advocating for resources.
- Promote and further Yesa history, language, and culture.
- Foster the development of positive and lasting collaboration between Virginia Tech and all 11 Virginia Indigenous Nations.
- Nurture and promote strong relationships between Indigenous faculty and staff, and the Indigenous Studies Program and Ati: Wa:oki (the Indigenous Community Center).
- Advise and oversee responsible use of the Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech.
- Engage Indigenous peoples, especially youth, in pathways that might lead to future studies at Virginia Tech or another academic institution.
Board Members
- Co-Chair: Edward Polanco (polanco@vt.edu)
- Co-Chair: Mikaela David John (mdavidjohn@vt.edu)
- Co-Secretary: Alicia Aldaz
- Co-Secretary: Jessica Bedore
- Indigenous Community Garden Caretaker: Victoria Ferguson
CCC for AIIPA
Vice Chair of CEOD: Melissa Faircloth (missy86@vt.edu)
The purpose of the Appalachian Caucus at Virginia Tech is to support the faculty, staff, and students of Appalachia, to encourage conversations regarding their experiences and issues, and offer community building opportunities that promote a positive representation of the local culture on the Blacksburg campus and in the surrounding communities.
Co-Chairs:
- Brandy Renee McCann (bmccann@vt.edu)
- Keith Nunn (keith60@vt.edu)
- Communication Liaison: Marti Wagnon (michellew@vt.edu)
- Treasurer: Tamarah Smith (tjsmith@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: Kang Xia (kxia@vt.edu)
- Co-chair: Pearl Xie (jrxie45@vt.edu)
- Publicity and social media officer: Peach Tantihkarnchana (pxt34@vt.edu)
- Treasurer: Jim Tokuhisa (tokuhisa@vt.edu)
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, Eric Glenn (ericzg9@vt.edu)
- Vice President, Ashley Offutt (oashley@vt.edu)
- Secretary, DeAnna Katey (deannep@vt.edu)
- Treasurer, Kimberly Smith (ksbrown@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: Lydia Qualls (lydia19@vt.edu)
- Co-Chair: Juno Bartsch (junob@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 through educational programming, social activities, public service, and outreach.
- Co-Chair: Haleigh Wallace (haleighwallace@vt.edu)
- Vice Chair: Seth Sterlin (ss1102@vt.edu)
- Community Engagement Coordinator: Anil Lalwani (anill@vt.edu)
- CEOD Representative: Hans Carlo Rivera (hcer95@vt.edu)
Listserv: lgbtqcaucus-g@vt.edu
To join the listserv, please email Haleigh Wallace at haleighwallace@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)
Mission Statement
The purpose of the JCVT shall be to promote the well-being of the Jewish community at Virginia Tech; to support the recruitment of Jewish faculty and staff; to assist in the recruitment and retention of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students at Virginia Tech; to encourage equitable utilization of Jewish faculty and staff throughout the university community; to be a liaison between the Jewish faculty and staff and the university administration; and to organize and maintain a support network for Jewish faculty and staff at Virginia Tech.
- Chair: Dan Hindman dhindman@vt.edu
- Membership Chair: Lily Corwin lcorwin@vt.edu
- Communications Chair: Simona Fried simonaf@vt.edu