AHEAD Virginia Announces 2024-2025 Executive Committee

The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) in Virginia has announced its Executive Committee for the 2024-2025 term. The leadership team consists of professionals representing various colleges and universities throughout the state.

Martina Svyantek Leads the Executive Committee

The committee is led by President Martina Svyantek, who serves as the Strategic Initiatives and Assistive Technology Manager at the University of Virginia. The officer positions are filled by the following individuals:

Past President: Joan Ehrlich (Northern Virginia Community College – retired)
President-Elect: Chris Parthemos, Associate Director of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity at Virginia Commonwealth University
Secretary: Jamie Chandler, Director of the Office of Accessibility Services at Southern Virginia University
Treasurer: Nancy Beach (Ferrum College – retired)

Members Lead Specific Organizational Committees

Several members have been appointed to lead specific organizational committees, including:

Communications Committee Chair: Scott Guebert, disAbility Resources Counselor at Patrick & Henry Community College
Government Relations Committee Chair: Andrea Sharpe-Robinson, Director of the Center for Accessibility Services at Radford University
Scholarship Committee Chair: Christa Miller, Associate Director of Services for Students with Disabilities at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Nominations Committee Chair: Matthew Shelor, Counselor for Services for Students with Disabilities at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Membership Committee Chair: Sarah Beth Dreis, GEAR UP Virginia Regional Manager for the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia
Technology Committee: Korey Singleton, Deputy ADA Coordinator for Accessibility and ATI Manager at George Mason University

Members-At-Large and Conference Leaders Join the Committee

The AHEAD in Virginia Executive Committee also includes members-at-large and peer mentoring leadership. Tiffanny Putman of Tidewater Community College and Larvail Jones of Randolph College serve as Members-at-Large. Peer Mentoring Co-Chairs include Naomi Martinez-Jones and Morgan Thompson, both from George Mason University.

Organization for the upcoming fall conference will be managed by Co-Chairs Doral Jackson, a counselor at Tidewater Community College, and Kate McDonald, Director of Disability Services at Randolph-Macon College.