Staff

Director

Abby Palko

Director
apalko@virginia.edu
434-982-2934

Counseling Staff

Margaret Edwards

Program Director for Counseling and Wellness Services

Cathy Erickson

Trauma Counselor

Poe Erickson

Psychiatric Service Dog / Good Boy

Amelia Walton

Counselor in Residence & Body Project Coordinator

Latoria White

Counselor in Residence & Case Manager

Janie Williams

Trauma Counselor

Programs Faculty & Staff

Genevieve Brackins

Men's Leadership Project Outreach Coordinator
gbrackins@virginia.edu
434-982-5324

Amy Chestnutt

Body Positive Co-Coordinator
aek4k@virginia.edu

Mary Esselman

Iris Editor
mdesselman@gmail.com

Sarah Jenkins

Young Women Leaders Program Mentoring Coordinator
stjenkins@virginia.edu
434-982-2648

What She Does:

Sarah oversees the daily operations of the 7th and 8th grade YWLP groups at the four partner middle schools in the Charlottesville area. Sarah provides match and group support for the approximately 50-60 Big Sisters and 8-10 Facilitators that participate in these groups.

Education:

M.Ed., Critical Studies in Educational Foundations, Ohio University
M.A., Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Florida Atlantic University
B.A., Women's and Gender Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Publications:

“Spicy. Exotic. Creature. Representations of Racial and Ethnic Minorities on RuPaul’s Drag Race.” In Brennan, N. and Gudelunas, D. (Eds.). RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Shifting Visibility of Drag Culture: The Boundaries of Reality TV. New York: Palgrave Macmillian.

Claire Kaplan

Director of Gender Violence and Social Change and the Men's Leadership Project
cnk2r@virginia.edu
434-982-2774

What She Does:

Claire oversees a team of undergraduate interns, who work to foster non-violent, healthy relationships across Grounds. Claire as well supervises the Men's Leadership Project. She provides Survivor Support Network trainings for UVA faculty and staff and is active on several committees on Grounds to help ensure that the University is a fair and safe place for all students, faculty, and staff. When Claire is working in the Women's Center, she can offer support to students as part of her role as a confidential advocate.

Education:

Ph.D. Social Foundations of Education, University of Virginia
M.A. Professional Writing, University of Southern California
B.S. Animal Behavior and Environmental Design, University of California, Davis

Courses Taught:

Gender Violence & Social Justice (WGS 2897)
Gender Based Violence Prevention on Campus: Theory and Practice (WGS 2559-02)

Jaronda Miller-Bryant

Director of Engaged Scholarship & Global Outreach and Associate Program Director, Young Women Leaders Program
jjm8ac@virginia.edu
434-924-9732

Administration

Leigh Ann Carver

Director of Communications and Advancement
lac4g@virginia.edu
434-924-3946

Tricia Crawford

Business Manager
pmc2b@virginia.edu
434-982-2250

Carol Gilbert

Advancement Coordinator
ceg6a@virginia.edu
434-982-2902

Sarah Steele

Office Coordinator and Assistant to the Director
sea3n@virginia.edu
434-982-2361

Graduate Assistant & Fellows

Ellen Graves

Greer Fellow
eig3tc@virginia.edu
434-982-2911

Christina Ross

Odela D. Cascells Fellow
cw4wb@virginia.edu

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