Community Engagement Advisory Board
The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Community Engagement Advisory Board (CEAB) creates a collaborative space to generate ongoing dialogue and shared accountability with VTCSOM leaders, community members, and local organizational leaders in the giving and receiving of information, insights, and feedback by:
- Guiding VTCSOM leadership regarding community engagement opportunities that best support the school’s vision, mission, values, and strategic objectives; and
- Fostering long-term relationships and partnerships supporting the relevance, excellence, and impact of VTCSOM’s community-directed programs and initiatives.
The CEAB guides the implementation of VTCSOM’s Strategic Plan, and our Vision, Mission, and Values which include:
- our commitment to collaborative excellence includes forging new relationships with community leaders and organizations; and
- our commitment to collaborative excellence includes forging new relationships with community leaders and organizations, and
- our commitment to ensuring that our learners, staff, and faculty are sensitive to and respectful of the inherent dignity and worth of each individual in our community.
The CEAB is chaired by Dean Learman and comprises a broad and diverse group of community leaders representing educational, health, social service, civic and non-governmental organizations. VTCSOM members include the vice dean and leaders of our community engagement programs.
Individuals interested in receiving more information, including the membership nomination process, should contact the Director for Community Engagement.
Community and Diversity Advisory Board Members
- Lee A. Learman, MD, PhD
Dean - David B. Trinkle, MD
Associate Dean for Community Engagement - Azziza O. Bankole, MBBS
Senior Advisor for Faculty Affairs - Nathaniel L. Bishop, Dmin
Community Ambassador - Courtney Powell
Director, Community Engagement - William (Bill) Lee
Retired Pastor, Loudon Ave. Christian Church - Baraka Kasongo
CEO, Volatia - Bethany Lackey
Executive Director, Roanoke Refugee Partnership - Joe Cobb
Mayor, Roanoke City - Angela Penn
President and CEO, TAP - Karen Michalski
Executive Director, Blue Ridge Independent Living Center - Ryan Bell
Student Services Manager, Roanoke Higher Education Center - Gregory Goodman
Director of Community Support Services, City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority - Richmond Vincent
President and CEO, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys - Brenda Hale
President, Roanoke Branch, NAACP - Aaron Boush
Director of Community Health and Outreach, Carilion - Rachel Hopkins
CEO, CHIP of Roanoke Valley - Christina Hatch Ballard
Executive Director, Children's Trust - Lisa Spencer
Executive Director, Local Colors - Verletta White
Superintendent, Roanoke City Public Schools - Ken Nicely
Superintendent, Roanoke County Public Schools - Curtis Hicks
Superintendent, Salem City Schools
Ryan Bell
Ryan Bell is a tireless champion for under-resourced communities and works to elevate the overall well-being of children and families. He does this through two distinct roles; first, as Head of School at The Academy at Belle where he is committed to fostering the ownership that scholars and parents have in their educational trajectory--and secondly, as Founder of The Black Father Family Initiative aiming to create space for Black fathers to find meaningful connections, support and resources to promote the health, well-being, and success of children, families and communities. Ryan is the father of four beautiful children and proud husband to Tarasha Bell, an educator within Roanoke City Public Schools.
Education:
- BA, Business Administration, Virginia Union University
- MIS, Education Administration, Virginia State University
Curtis Hicks
Curtis Hicks is currently the Superintendent of Schools in Salem City. He is a lifelong educator with experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and central office administrator in Salem, Roanoke County, and Floyd County. His career reflects his belief that public education is the foundation for our democracy and that it represents the best opportunity for families to achieve the American Dream. He is committed to ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education regardless of their current circumstances. Dr. HIcks resides in Salem with his wife Marcia. They have three children, Garrett 23, Meredith 21, and Will 19.
Rachel Hopkins
Rachel has been the CEO of CHIP of the Roanoke Valley since December of 2021. With over a decade of experience in the fields of strategy, leadership, creativity, and social change, Rachel empowers people and enables processes to create inclusive, engaged workplaces. Since moving to Roanoke, Rachel previously served as the Executive Director of the Science Museum of Western Virginia, as the Vice President of Development for Center in the Square and led the development of the popular Roanoke Pinball Museum. Before relocating to Roanoke in 2012, Rachel lived abroad for over a decade, both in Leipzig, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts: English
- University of Texas At Austin | Austin, TX | May 2002
- Certificate of Executive Leadership
- Batten Leadership Institute | Hollins University | May 2019
- Certificate of Leadership: Economic Development
- Leadership of Roanoke Valley | May 2018
Community Involvement
- Committee Member, Star City Strong Recovery Fund Task Force
- Board of Trustees, Roanoke Diversity Center
- Board of Trustees, Noke Codes
- Big Sister w/ Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia
- Volunteer w/ Family Promise
- Volunteer w/ Special Olympics Virginia
Karen Karney
Karen Karney has been Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Independent Living Center, Roanoke, since it started in 1989.
She serves as Vice-President of the Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living. She is also past Chair of the Statewide Independent Living Council. Locally, she serves on the Board of the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board, Greater Roanoke Transit Company, and the Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Over the years, Karen has been instrumental in establishing Centers for Independent Living in the Lynchburg, Piedmont and New River Valley areas. She served as Interim Director of the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia in Arlington, the Disability Rights and Resource Center, Rocky Mount, and New River Valley Disability Resource Center, Christiansburg.
Karen holds a Masters in Public Administration from James Madison University. Karen and her husband celebrated their 42th Anniversary in February. They have a 31-year-old son. They live in Franklin County with numerous pets including miniature horses, goats, a miniature donkey, cats, and dogs.
Annette Lewis
Annette Lewis is proud to be the president of Total Action for Progress (TAP), a community action agency that employs over 300 employees, has more than 20 programs, and assists over 5,000 individuals each with the mission of helping individuals and families achieve sustainable and equitable economic and personal independence through education, employment, affordable housing, and safe and healthy environments.
Ms. Lewis has worked at TAP for more than 30 years, starting her career with the agency as a summer youth counselor and later assuming a variety of positions, including supervisor of Head Start family and parent involvement, director of This Valley Works, vice president of programs, and senior vice president of programs, prior to becoming president. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Lewis led the agency in the growth of its education and employment programs that provide a wide array of career development opportunities for youth and adults. Some of the results of her efforts include: forming a statewide employment training network; organizing the first comprehensive regional job fair; honoring individuals who contribute to the success of African-Americans in the community by hosting an annual Black History Month celebration; developing Sabrina’s Place supervised visitation and safe exchange program; implementing the Cabell Brand Hope Award in honor of TAP’s founder; and organizing an annual HBCU football classic in partnership with the founder, Mayor Sherman Lea, Funds from the football game enabled TAP to retrieve over 900 high school dropouts returning them to education in public or alternative school settings.
A tireless leader and force for good within the community, Ms. Lewis has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2016 SCLC Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major of Justice; 2013 Regional Workforce Development Professional of the Year; 2009 YWCA Woman of Achievement in Business; 2008 Psi Phi Citizen of the Year; 2007 Morning Star Baptist Church Mother of the Year; 2006 Zeta Phi Beta Finer Womanhood Banquet Honoree; 2003-2004 featured in the Profiles of Achievement edition of Black Pages Magazine; and 1996 Morning Star Baptist Church Woman of the Year.
Ms. Lewis serves on the following boards and committees: Chairman of the Virginia Community Action Partnership and member of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority, Taubman Museum, Chamber of Commerce, Visit Blue Ridge, and a former chairman of the Roanoke City School Board. She is also a lifetime member of the NAACP; co-founder and member of the board of the domestic violence awareness organization Ladies of Vision (LOV); served as a co-leader for the Inclusive Community Engagement Working Group for the VCSOM during its strategic planning process; and is a faithful member of Morning Star Baptist Church, the church her husband, Rev. Dr. L. A. Lewis, pastors.
Ms. Lewis is a native of Dallas, Texas, and graduate of West Texas State University.
The Lewis’ have two children and three grandsons.
Lisa Spencer
Lisa serves as Executive Director for Local Colors of Western VA, a nonprofit organization that celebrates international diversity and fosters inclusion, and builds multicultural understanding through events, education, and service. Lisa came on board at Local Colors in August 2019 with 25 years of nonprofit experience in human services, community development, project management and homeless services. Her work has involved grant writing and management of both public and private grants, fundraising, nonprofit administration, new program development, and network coordination for regional solutions to mitigate homelessness. serving as the Continuum of Care coordinator for the state of Rhode Island. Now in the arts and culture world with her work at Local Colors, Lisa aims to bring awareness to the many ethnicities in the Roanoke Valley and celebrating their cultural heritages in fun and accessible ways.
Education
- BA, Economics, California State University, Northridge (1991)
- ThM, Systemic Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary (2014)