Staff

Director

Abby Palko

Director
apalko@virginia.edu
434-982-2934

Counseling Staff

Margaret Edwards, LPC

Program Director for Counseling and Wellness Services

Cathy Erickson, LPC

Trauma Counselor

Poe Erickson, PSD

Therapy Dog / Good Boy

Aisha Saeed, LCSW

Trauma Counselor

Uriel Santiago, NCC

Resident in Counseling

Amelia Walton, MA, EdS

Resident in Counseling & Body Project Coordinator

Latoria White Counselor in Residence and Case Manager

Latoria White, MA

Resident in Counseling & Case Manager

Janie Williams, LCSW

Trauma Counselor

Programs Faculty & Staff

Genevieve Brackins

Outreach Coordinator
gbrackins@virginia.edu
434-982-5324

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 coordinates the operations of YWLP in the Charlottesville area by serving as our liaison with staff members and parents in the four partnering middle schools. She manages the work of our YWLP interns and graduate assistants as well as supporting the many UVA students serving as YWLP Big Sisters and facilitators in the program each year.

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

Program Director, Gender Violence and Social Change
cnk2r@virginia.edu
434-982-2774

What She Does:

Claire's work to address gender-based violence includes teaching courses, planning guest lectures, and providing related workshops to students, faculty, and staff. She mentors students interning on our Gender Violence & Social Change team and serves on several committees around Grounds to help ensure that UVA is a fair and safe place for the whole University community. When Claire is working in the Women's Center, she offers support and advocacy to students, faculty, and staff in her role as a confidential advocate.

Education: