Alumni Association Staff
Thomas C. Tillar, Jr. |
Thomas C. Tillar, Jr. joined the University staff in 1971 and currently serves as Vice President for Alumni Relations (since 1996). Prior to that, he served as director of alumni relations. His responsibilities include overseeing the mission and goals of alumni programs for nearly 200,000 living alumni of the university and serving as secretary-treasurer of the Alumni Association. Other duties involve coordinating the committees and activities of the Alumni Board of Directors, guiding strategic planning and budgeting of alumni programs and services, overseeing the professional and support staff and shaping communications programs that promote alumni programs and general support of the university. In addition to directing alumni programs, Tom previously headed annual fundraising activities and corporate/foundation support for the university. He is a 1969 graduate of the Biology department and holds masters and doctoral degrees from the College of Human Resources and Education and College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. He is certified as a fundraising executive by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, and is a member of two professional organizations, CASE and CAAE, serving in leadership roles in both. |
Sam Albimino |
For several years Sam has been with the university in the area of University Development, responsible for corporate and foundation support - most recently within the Pamplin College of Business. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the university, and brings a variety of valuable management and organizational experience from his roles in Development and his prior corporate positions before joining Virginia Tech. Sam is responsible for providing leadership to all of our constituency and reunion programming, royalty programs, records and technology programs and management of the physical facilities of our Alumni Center. He and his wife, Anne Collins Albimino (also an alum), have twin daughters and are active in a variety of ways within our community. |
Carolyn Bain |
Carolyn joined the Alumni Association team in September 2006 as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. Carolyn's responsibilities include planning, coordinating and executing events for the College of Engineering and assisting with Alumni Relation events including reunions and other alumni programs. Prior to coming to Alumni Relations, Carolyn was a Development Associate for the College of Engineering. A 1996 graduate of High Point University, Carolyn received her Bachelor of Science degree in I/O Psychology as an adult student. She has worked in higher education since 1989 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia where she was the Director of the Associates Program and High Point University in North Carolina. |
Carol Beasley |
Carol Beasley, Executive Assistant for the Corps of Cadets Alumni Programs, retired as an E-9 after twenty years in the Navy and Naval Reserves. As an outdoor enthusiast, she holds a Bachelor of Recreation degree from Mars Hill College and an Associate of Arts degree in Photography from Chowan College. She joined the Corps' staff in August 2003 after holding an administrative and web design position at the Virginia Tech Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Her responsibilities include programming alumni events, developing and maintaining the Corps alumni website and database, and providing customer service and communication between alumni. She recently received an Office Software Skills Training Program Certificate for the completion of nine classes. |
John Borman |
John joined the Alumni Association in June 2005. He has a BA in History and MA in Library Science from Rosary College, and has worked in the printing and copying business for over 20 years. He lives in Yellow Sulphur Springs with wife Peggy, dogs Erwin and Lucy and cat PigPig. They have one son living in Elliston and one son serving in the United States Army. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering at the Lyric Theatre, playing music, fixing and riding motorcycles, and is active with Collie Rescue of the Carolinas. |
Josh Burnheimer |
Josh recently graduated from Virginia Tech with a Degree in Financial Planning and joined the Alumni Association staff in January 2009. He advises and provides administrative support to all alumni chapters and clubs in Southwest Virginia, the Western Mid-Atlantic States and lower Midwest States. He is also responsible for coordinating Alumni Association community service programs and individual chapter programs. Josh has a long history of volunteerism dating back to high school where he became a volunteer Firefighter/EMT at the age of 16. Throughout his collegiate career Josh held leadership positions with numerous clubs and organizations. He has a long history with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life and served as Director in 2007 when Virginia Tech was ranked second in the nation among colleges, raising over $294,000. Josh continues to advise Relay For Life committees at both Radford University and Virginia Tech and has presented at multiple national and regional American Cancer Society events. Josh enjoys the outdoors and living up to the Virginia Tech motto “Ut Prosim.” |
Laurie Brogdon |
Laurie joined the Alumni Association in August 2008. In her new position, as the Director of Multicultural Alumni Programs, her duties include cultivating relationships by engaging alumni and students through outreach, events, activities, reunions, and recruitment with an emphasis on multicultural constituencies. She graduated in 2004 with a BA in Communication from Virginia Tech, with a concentration in public relations and event planning. She continued her family legacy and is the third Virginia Tech graduate in her family. During her four years at Tech, she served in many capacities as resident advisor, president of several student organizations, public relations manager for the Collegiate Times, and was an event planner for UUSA. Upon graduation Laurie joined WDBJ 7, a CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia, as a Production Assistant. She continued working in her field when she joined the Roanoke Times as an Advertising Consultant. Most recently, Laurie worked as a Community Relations Manager for Barnes and Noble in Washington D.C. Laurie loves to spend time with her family and her interests include sports, music, and fashion. |
Sharon Croy |
Sharon Croy's responsibilities include updating alumni biographical information, coordinating the sending of e-mail publications to alumni, as well as answering questions and solving problems regarding the Alumni Gateway on the Alumni Association web site. She has been employed at Virginia Tech since 1989 and has worked in alumni relations since 1998. Sharon resides in Christiansburg with her husband, John, and daughter Kayla. |
Deborah A. Day |
Debbie established the first satellite office for the Alumni Association in Northern Virginia in 1987. She joined the Blacksburg office in 1993 and currently serves as Associate Vice President. She oversees the alumni chapter program with over 130 chapters and clubs nationwide. Debbie provides leadership to Student Programs including the Student Alumni Associates and Class System and also the Communications area (Printing, Publications and Public Relations). She coordinates alumni programs and reunions and represents the Alumni Association on various university committees. Since July 2008 Debbie has served as Director of the Office of Recovery and Support, the office created following the April 16 tragedy to provide direct support to the victim’s families and injured survivors. She works with a dedicated and caring staff who provide for the needs of those most directly affected by the tragedy. She remains committed to the development of students and in addition to working with Alumni Association student programs, she teaches a leadership class in the Residential Leadership Community and serves as an advisor to Pi Beta Phi fraternity. She received a BA in Communications Studies in 1984 and an M.S. in Adult and Continuing Education in 1993 both from Virginia Tech. Debbie resides in Blacksburg with her husband J.S. and three children, Tanley, Walker and Brad. |
Karen Denny |
Karen Denny's responsibilities include processing accounts payable and receivables, gathering travel information and processing travel reimbursements, reconciling funds and special program accounts, processing hourly payroll, and staff leave. She has worked for Virginia Tech since 1985, joining the Alumni Association in July 1995. Karen lives in Christiansburg with her husband and son. |
Tracey Drowne |
Tracey Drowne joined the Alumni Association in November 2009 after working as Student Development Coordinator in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences' Undergraduate Academic Affairs. She has been with Virginia Tech since 1994. Her responsibilities include updating biographical information for alumni, submitting files and rosters to other departments and student organizations on campus, and providing mailing addresses for Alumni Association correspondence. |
Greg Fansler |
Greg joined the Alumni Association in August of 2007. He is a 2002 graduate of Virginia Tech and received a Bachelor of Science in Management and Finance with a concentration in Financial Risk. He is currently enrolled in the Professional MBA program at Virginia Tech. He serves as the liaison to alumni chapters within the Southeast and is responsible for the royalty programs that fund the Alumni Association. Greg currently resides in Blacksburg and is a member of a proud Hokie family. His hobbies consist of training for triathlons and music. He is a Rotary member and serves on various committees throughout the University. |
Shirley Fleet |
Shirley Fleet joined the Alumni Association in May of 2004. Her responsibilities include correspondence, scheduling meetings, maintaining the calendar for the Vice President of the Alumni Association, maintaining files, compiling class notes section for the VT Magazine, and sending letters to alumni who submit the information. Other duties include handling class ring requests, coordinating the invitation of alums to represent Virginia Tech President, and ordering academic apparel for such occasions. Shirley has worked for over 15 years in the role of Executive Secretary beginning with real estate to a consulting engineering firm. She has been married to a Blacksburg native for over 30 years and they have one daughter. Her hobbies include bowling, walking, sewing, singing, traveling, crafts, and spending time with her family. |
Patricia Bartos Foutz |
In her role as alumni chapter programs coordinator, Patricia Bartos Foutz serves the alumni chapters in the western part of the country as well as Alaska, Hawaii and Northeast Ohio and works from Blacksburg and Las Vegas. Patty received her BS in Mathematics from The Ohio State University (OSU). She attended OSU graduate school in Mathematics and in Mathematical Statistics and earned an M.S. in Mathematical Statistics. She completed all but her dissertation for a Ph.D. in Mathematical Statistics. In 1976 after a brief career in state government and banking, she came to Virginia Tech as a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and in beginning in 1981 served as the Assistant Department Head in Computer Science. In 1988 she became the Director of VT's Cooperative Education Program. In 1995 she returned to teaching as a faculty member in VT's Department of Statistics. In 1997 she assumed the Director position of VT's Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SWVHEC) Extended Campus in Abingdon and began her affiliation with the Alumni Association. She took early retirement in January 2003 and again in January 2009. She continues her professional career as a part time professional faculty member for the Alumni Association. |
Bonnie Gilbert |
Bonnie received a Bachelor degree from Bluefield College in Organizational Management in 1996 and an M.A. in Family & Child Development from Virginia Tech in 2000. She has worked with Virginia Tech in various capacities serving in academic and career advising positions with the Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Communications, University Academic Advising Center and Building Construction. Bonnie is originally from Craig County and presently resides in Newport with her three children. |
Carol Green |
Carol Green has been with the Alumni staff since January of 2001. Her responsibilities include event management for our class reunions, college homecomings and constituency events. Before joining our staff, Carol worked for eleven years in marketing and customer service for a software company in Blacksburg. She holds an associate’s degree from New River Community College and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Bluefield College. |
Sara Guerry |
Sara '05 joined the Alumni Association in April 2009. An alumna of Virginia Tech, she received an undergraduate degree in Communications with a specialization in Public Relations. Sara joins our team with a strong background in conference planning from Continuing and Professional Education and festival event planning experience from EventZone. Her responsibilities include the planning and execution of the Alumni Association’s special events such as class reunions and Old Guard. She will also provide assistance for events such as Summer Around the Drillfield. Sara’s interests outside of the office include spending time with her friends and family. |
Stephanie "Lane" Guilliams |
Lane joined the Alumni Association in January 2009. Her responsibilities include planning and coordinating events for the College of Natural Resources. She is also responsible for assisting with Alumni Relations events including reunions and other special programs. Lane received her B.S. from the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech in 1995 and also has an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma. |
Gwen Harrington |
Gwen Harrington joined the Alumni Association in November of 2007. As an undergraduate at Virginia Tech she received a bachelor of science in psychology and is currently pursuing a master’s in Information Technology. Gwen has worked at Virginia Tech for several years, formerly with Multicultural Programs and Services. Her responsibilities with the Alumni Association include coordinating young alumni programs and reunions, senior transition programs, and creating and managing an alumni networking system. Gwen works as the advisor to the student group "Students Today Alumni Tomorrow". She also manages the Alumni Association’s Travel Program and a variety of other Alumni programs. Gwen’s interests include travel, music, darts, photography and web design. |
Jack Hutcheson |
As a third-generation alumnus and fourth-generation employee, Jack Hutcheson serves as Associate Director in charge of alumni chapters throughout the North Atlantic states. His previous work for Arthur Andersen & Co., E. F. Hutton, and as General Partner of his own firm, includes over 20 years of extensive management and administrative expertise. Since moving to Northern Virginia in 1980, Jack has been a leader in local volunteer organizations. He has held leadership positions in the Alexandria YMCA, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, and Christ Church of Alexandria. He was a founding member of the Capital-area Alumni Association of a large national fraternity. His professional memberships include Beta Gamma Sigma, National Business Honor Fraternity, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Forbears and contemporaries graduating from Virginia Tech include Jack's grandfather, class of '07; father and mother, classes of '44 and '48, respectively, and various relatives. Four generations of Virginia Tech employees began with his great-grandfather, who joined the faculty in 1896, continuing through his grandfather, who held several positions including President from 1945-47, through his grandfather's nephew, and on, to Jack and his generation. |
Robin Jackson |
Robin Jackson's responsibilities include planning and coordinating events for the College of Science. She is also responsible for assisting with Alumni Relations events including reunions and other special programs. A native of North Carolina, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in Education and a Masters of Art in Liberal Studies from East Tennessee State University. Before her career in higher education, Robin spent over twenty years in the corporate arena working in the financial and insurance industry. Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, she was the Program Coordinator for Personal Development in East Tennessee State University's Continuing Studies program and the Assistant Director of Continuing Education at Radford University. |
Cathy Lally |
Cathy Lally has been with the Alumni staff since 1992. Her responsibilities as the Assistant to the Vice President include coordinating meetings and communications for the Alumni Board of Directors, coordinating all aspects of alumni awards, and student scholarships. Cathy also coordinates, plans and assists with class reunions and serves as the liaison for the New River Valley Alumni Chapter. She serves as a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) Steering Committee. |
Betty Lee |
Betty Lee's duties in the Virginia Tech Richmond office include oversight of alumni chapters throughout Virginia….Eastern Shore to Roanoke (east to west) Fredericksburg to Southside/Danville (north to south) and Texas chapters: Austin/San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Houston. She is currently the liaison to 29 chapters. She works with the Legislative Advocacy Committee in planning Hokie Day at the General Assembly. She served as chair of America's Promise in Roanoke and is currently Board Chairman of Virginia Amateur Sports (VAS is the organizer and presenter of Commonwealth Games of Virginia.) Betty holds three degrees from Virginia Tech: M.A., CAGS and Ph.D. Prior to joining the Alumni staff, she was the principal of Patrick Henry High School. Betty joined the staff in July 2000. |
Jamie Lucero |
Jamie joined the Alumni staff in January 2006. She provides leadership for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ (CALS) Alumni events, projects, and the CALS Alumni Organization. Some of her key responsibilities are coordinating and planning College Homecoming and regional events, serving as an advisor to the CALS Student Ambassador Organization, assisting the CALS Alumni Organization in carrying out their plan of work including board meetings, monthly Executive board conference calls, and other committee meetings, and collaborating with the University Alumni Relations Office to position the CALS Alumni Organization as an integral part of University alumni functions and activities. A native of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, she received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science from Central Missouri State University and Kansas State University, respectively. Previously, Jamie was employed as a Research Associate by Revivicor, Inc., a biotechnology company in the VT Corporate Research Center, and then moved to the VT Economics Department to serve as the Graduate Program Administrator. Jamie enjoys spending time with her husband, Warren, and daughter, Emma, and serving on the Board of Directors of the New River Valley Friends of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. |
Vijayalakshmi "Vijay" Mallikarjunan |
Vijaya Mallikarjunan works with the Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations to execute appropriate application of information technology to Alumni Association program areas and business processes. In her role as Technical Services Manager, she provides network and server administration, user support and web application development. She is also the primary liaison for the Alumni Association with campus information systems service providers and external information technology vendors. Vijaya Mallikarjunan earned her Masters degree in Instructional Technology from Virginia Tech and B.S in Information Systems from Mercer University. Vijaya, an Information Systems Professional, has more than 10 years of experience in programming, systems analysis and system administration and proficient in developing active, dynamic web based applications, database connectivity and network administration. Prior to joining the Alumni Association, Vijaya has worked for several departments at Virginia Tech (EHSS, CEUT, and ISC). She resides in Blacksburg with her husband and three children. At home, she enjoys cooking, gardening and spending quality time with her kids. |
Virginia "Ginny" Ritenour |
Ginny joined the Alumni Association in October 2008. Her responsibilities include serving on the chapter team and providing a point of contact for chapter related matters. She assists with the maintenance of the chapter database and volunteer handbook, as well as planning the Chapter Officers Forum and chapter leadership training. Ginny moved to Blacksburg in 1989 to attend Virginia Tech and now lives in Newport, Virginia with her husband and son. She has volunteered with Virginia Cooperative Extension as a Master Gardener since 2000 and loves photography and music. |
Richard "Rock" Roszak |
Rock Roszak graduated from Virginia Tech in 1971 and spent 27 years on active duty with the United States Air Force. His final assignment was as commander of the Virginia Tech Air Force ROTC detachment. After retirement from the Air Force, he was a Deputy Commandant of Cadets in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets for three years before assuming his current alumni position. As Associate Director, Rock coordinates all alumni activities associated with the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, manages all Corps alumni scholarship programs, determines and coordinates the annual alumni awards to the cadet regiment, helps maintain the Corps of Cadets Alumni website, and is the editor of the Corps Review VTCC alumni magazine, which is published three times a year. |
Denise Royal |
Denise Royal joined the Alumni Association in June 2009 after working more than eight years as a Publications Specialist for the Department of English at Virginia Tech. Her responsibilities with the Alumni Association include assisting the Communications Director with public relations, print, HTML e-mail, and web. She works with the development and design of Alumni Association publications, including chapter, reunions and other event mailings. She also works with the Communications Director to maintain the Alumni Association’s website. Denise’s interests outside of the office include spending time with her friends, family, and her shih-tzu (Gizmo) and cat (Bubba). She is a licensed cosmetologist and currently works part-time at a local salon and spa. |
Laura Snelgrove |
Laura joined the alumni staff as a receptionist in January 2005 and provides support for various staff and programs. She lives in Blacksburg with her husband, Clark, and six sons. Laura graduated from Brigham Young University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Laura and Clark met while attending ballroom dance classes at college and have been dancing ever since. After graduating from BYU, Laura taught 6th grade until she became a full-time mom. Working as the receptionist at the Alumni Association has been a fun change of pace, though sometimes it can be as busy as being at home with six boys! Laura is active in the women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and teaches a nursery class. She loves to cook, machine quilt, garden and dance. Though she is a True-Blue Cougar through and through, she is also a proud Hokie Mom! |
Vaughan Twigger |
Vaughan Twigger has been a part of the Alumni staff since January 2006. Some of his responsibilities include preparing and sending out the Virginia Tech Alumni bulk mail, Pick ups/deliveries, building maintenance, answering phone calls, and opening/closing procedures of the building. Vaughan is originally from Leicestershire, England where he played for a professional soccer (football as he calls it) team. He is now a permanent resident of the United States and has lived in Blacksburg, Virginia since July 1999. Asides from working for the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Vaughan is also a professional bodybuilder and personal trainer. |
Melissa Vidmar |
Melissa Vidmar oversees the Communications area to include public relations, print, e-mail, and web; creates and edits the Travel magazine and provides content management for the Alumni Association section of the Virginia Tech magazine; supervises communications and printing staff; supports other alumni programs (i.e. reunions, special programs,chapter events), heads the Public Relations Committee, and coordinates the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Open House and presence at other campus events to include GobblerFest, July New Student Orientation, etc. Melissa has over 14 years experience in public relations, marketing, and publications. Her educational background is in computer science and marketing. She began work for the Alumni Office in January 2004. Melissa, her husband Greg, and their pugs Rio and Muffin live in Blacksburg and enjoy traveling and watching Hokie football! |
Laura Wedin |
Laura earned her Master of Fine Arts degree (Theatre Arts) from Virginia Tech in 1984 and joined the Alumni staff in 1994. As Student Programs Director, she serves as advisor to Class Programs which includes the Ring Design/Premiere/Dance events, and the Student Alumni Associates (SAA), a student group that supports Alumni Association and university events. Laura enjoys the rich history of Virginia Tech, especially the Class ring tradition. She is a long-time volunteer for Historic Smithfield and enjoys hiking and backpacking the trails of southwest Virginia. A Native Texan, she has resided in Blacksburg since 1982 and has two sons - the oldest is an '08 Hokie! |
Kellie Wells |
Kellie joined the Alumni Association team in August 2004 as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Her responsibilities include planning and coordinating various events including hospitality tents at athletic events, college Homecoming and departmental reunions, Alumni Committee meetings, alumni open houses, and regional events. She is also responsible for assisting with Alumni Relations programs including class reunions and other special programs. Prior to coming to Tech she worked as a development officer for her alma mater, Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina. Kellie earned a BA in Public Relations there in ’99. Kellie enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremy and daughter Caitlin and going to Hokie athletic events! |
Jan Wilson |
Jan Wilson joined our staff in April of 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She also has an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Culinary Arts from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Prior to assuming her current position with the Alumni Association, Jan worked for The Salt Lake and Torino Organizing Committees for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, The United States Olympic Committee, The Center for Culinary Development, Disabled Sports USA, and Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company. She owned and operated two fine art galleries in Sun Valley, Idaho, is a trained and certified appraiser of fine art, and occasionally caters private parties and special events. In her younger days, Jan was an accomplished athlete, competing in regional, national and international swimming events. She has 12 Paralympic swimming medals and won 3 of them consecutively in the Paralympic Games. She also held 5 national and 3 world records throughout her many years of competitive swimming. Jan loves equestrian dressage, rowing, alpine skiing, visual arts, music and travel. |
Lynn Young |
Lynn Young is the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine’s Director of Alumni Relations and Student Affairs. Lynn has been employed at Virginia Tech since 1984. As Director of Alumni Relations, she travels regionally and nationally to plan alumni receptions in conjunction with VMRCVM meetings and conferences. She is also responsible for the VMRCVM Alumni Society Board of Directors which was created in 2000. As director of student affairs, she oversees the annual VMRCVM Open House, which draws hundreds of participants, the freshman class week-long orientation, tours and the student ambassador program. Lynn received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech. She resides in Christiansburg with her son, Nick, and daughter, Hannah. |