TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tidings: From the Director

"Brief Reflections on the Institute's 20th Anniversary"

Accomplishments

Vickie Grazioli

Brian Salazar Zamora

Christopher Elam

Viola Runia

Lara Nagle

Nicole Davidson-Wert

Kristin Adkins

Christopher Grubb

Charlie Rickard

Mary Beth Dunkenberger

Aida Hassani

Amin Farzaneh

Max Stephenson Jr.

Brad Stephens

Armin Firouzi

Helya Sehat

David Moore

Bob Leonard

Andy Morikawa

Marcy Schnitzer

Molly Hunter

Helen Ferguson

Ariel Otruba

Shahed Alhadyan

Sara Naghibizadeh

Bernice Owusu-Brown

Ciara Collins

Jon Catherwood-Ginn

Yugasha Bakshi

Olabisi Yusuf

Aline de Souza

Cana Itchuaqiyaq

Project Updates

• Virginia Management Fellows
• Leadership and Management Pathways Program at the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation
• Behavioral Health Interpreter
• Octagon House Executive Feasibility Study

Conferences & Events

• 2026 Summer Institute
• 6th Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion, and Mental Health
• Global Teaching Scholars
• 2026 Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling
• IPG hosts Spring Edition of Richmond Seminar Series
• 2026 Virginia Recovery Conference
• IPG Night at a Salem RidgeYaks Game
• IPG 20th Anniversary Celebration

Announcements & Opportunities

• IPG Welcomes Carmen Monico
• In Memoriam: Lisa Poley

Collaborating Faculty Spotlight

Harry Gleason, Project Manager, Community Design Assistance Center

Graduate Student Spotlight

Shadrack Nii Yarboi Yartey, PhD Student, Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education

Alumni Spotlight

Raj GC, Assistant Professor and Extension Urban Agriculture Specialist, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Commentaries, Essays & Publications

• Soundings and Tidings
• Five Pieces Worth Reading
• Recent Publications

"Brief Reflections on the Institute's 20th Anniversary"

BY MAX O. STEPHENSON, JR.

Director, Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PROJECT UPDATES

Virginia Management Fellows

Congratulations to Virginia Management Fellows (VMF) Cohort 7 for concluding their two-year journey of leadership development and service across multiple Virginia state agencies. The Fellows presented their work on June 18 at Commonwealth In Practice, a culminating symposium showcasing applied research and innovative solutions developed during their immersive agency service. Fellows shared key insights, lessons learned, and recommendations aimed at addressing governance challenges across the Commonwealth. Visit IPG's website for more information about VMF or contact Arielle McCollum at ariellem@vt.edu. 

Photo courtesy of Arielle McCollum.

Leadership and Management Pathways Program at the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation

Staff selected from the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation 

(VCBR) completed the Leadership and Management Pathways Program (LAMPP), a IPG professional development initiative designed to strengthen the leadership skills of frontline supervisors, team leaders and new managers on May 26-27. “LAMPPers”, as they are affectionately known within VCBR, participated in interactive workshops and collaborative learning activities, giving them opportunities to engage with individuals from other departments. LAMPPers also presented lessons learned and tools and strategies that can be employed in their roles within VCBR. Facilitated by Drs. Anne Walters and Andrew Sharp, LAMPP equips participants with tools and strategies to lead with confidence, integrity and purpose while enhancing their everyday management effectiveness.

IPG is proud to partner with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and 

Developmental Services (DBHDS) to support professional development at VCBR. For 

more information about how your agency or organization can support its emerging leaders, please contact Dr. Walters at zobella8@vt.edu. 

Photo courtesy of Arielle McCollum.

Behavioral Health Interpreter

In May, IPG welcomed the first 

cohort of participants to the newly revised Behavioral Health Interpreter (BHI) CORE 

Training. The six-day training, facilitated by Cecily Rodriguez, Associate Director for 

Research and Organizational Innovation, marked an important milestone as the Institute 

officially assumed responsibility for the curriculum's design and implementation. This iteration built on a program that has prepared behavioral health interpreters since 2008.

Originally developed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and 

Developmental Services, BHI CORE has been reimagined to enhance quality, expand its reach, and strengthen its long-term impacts. This latest cohort is piloting the new curriculum, providing valuable feedback that will shape future training as the program grows to serve participants not only across Virginia, but nationally and internationally as well. Contact crodrig1@vt.edu for additional program information.

Photo courtesy of Arielle McCollum.

Octagon House Executive Feasibility Study

The Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) recently published a blog highlighting the collaboration between CECE, Community Design Assistance Center at Virginia Tech, IPG, and the Virginia Tech Southwest Center on the Octagon House Foundation Executive Feasibility Study in Marion, Virginia. Institute Community-Based Research Manager Lara Nagle served as the Principal Investigator alongside Professor Lisa Tucker, Director of the Southwest Center Allison Mays, and CECE Associate Director of Impact and Evaluation Elli Travis. Thank you to Julia Kell for authoring the blog describing the project.



Photo courtesy of the Octagon House Foundation.

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

2026 Summer Institute

IPG Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships Dr. David Moore participated in a panel on artificial intelligence at the 2026 Summer Institute hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at Virginia Tech entitled, "Experiences of using AI Tools in the Classroom." Dr. Moore and fellow panelists shared their successes, challenges, and lessons learned to date in employing artificial intelligence in this way.

Photo credit: Billy Parvatam

6th Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion, and Mental Health

Dr. Andrew Sharp, IPG Senior Public and Community Engagement Manager, presented at the 6th Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion, and Mental Health on May 14 at Harvard Medical School. The program drew attendees from 20 countries. The title of Dr. Sharp's presentation was, “Building Bridges, Restoring Trust: Enhancing Collaboration between Spiritual Leaders and Mental Health Professionals through a Psychospiritual Care Competency Training Program.” His comments grew out of an IPG sponsored initiative on Mental Health and Spirituality that was launched in July 2025 with a public lecture, followed by a 5-month pilot from August-December, and that includes companion ongoing research and community engagement efforts.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Sharp.

Global Teaching Scholars

IPG Research Scientist Dr. Bernice Owusu-Brown participated in the Global Teaching Scholars study abroad conference in Copenhagen, Denmark from May 31-June 6. Global Teaching Scholar programs are designed for Virginia Tech faculty members to develop their knowledge and skills as global educators as they engage in a faculty development experience abroad. Co-facilitated by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) and the Global Education Office (GEO), Global Teaching Scholar programs combine interactive workshops and place-based activities to share and model effective practices for global education.

Photo courtesy of Farida Jalalzai.

2026 Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling

Dr. Andrew Sharp co-presented alongside Virginia Tech colleague Dr. Hannah Bayne, at the 2026 ASERVIC Virtual Conference, Sacred Spaces: Honoring Diverse Spiritual Journeys on June 8. This was a 90-minute presentation and discussion that they entitled, “Building Bridges: Religious and Spiritual Mental Health Training for Behavioral Health Providers and Community Faith

Leaders.” Drs. Sharp and Bayne described a development program (sponsored by IPG) that brought together behavioral healthcare workers and community faith leaders for a co-learning experience on integrating mental health and spiritual/religious care. They shared lessons learned and future directions for bridging the gap between mental health and faith communities, with the hope of improving opportunities for holistic care and community healing.

IPG hosts Spring Edition of Richmond Seminar Series

On April 28th, IPG along with the Virginia 

Tech Richmond Center (VTRC) and Virginia Cooperative Extension, co-sponsored the Spring 

edition of the Richmond Seminar Series. This community engagement event included a panel 

discussion on the theme, “Adapting Together: Resilience in Times of Change 

and Uncertainty.” Panelists included:



• Crystal Tyler-Mackey, Virginia Cooperative Extension/Virginia Tech
• Kathy Hosig, Virginia Tech Department of Population Health Sciences
• Sheena Lyle, Clinician in private practice, Community Partner, and Speaker
• Paige Riddle, Virginia Cooperative Extension/Virginia Tech
• Susan Johnstad (moderator), Virginia Tech Richmond Center

Panelists shared insights from their work and discussed ways to stay grounded during 

times of great change, including how resilience can be strengthened through relationships and community support, and why care works best when it is collective. Attendees explored ways to navigate change at home, at work and in the community.

The Richmond Seminar series, sponsored by VTRC and IPG is free and open to the public. The program brings scholars, experts and practitioners together each quarter to discuss a topic of interest to Virginia communities. Please contact Dr. Andrew Sharp at andrewsharp@vt.edu for information on the next seminar. 

2026 Virginia Recovery Conference

IPG Deputy Director Mary Beth Dunkenberger and Research Scientist Dr. Bernice Owusu-Brown participated in the 2026 Virginia Recovery Conference June 15-17 in Roanoke Virginia.

IPG Night at a Salem RidgeYaks Game

A group from IPG attended the Salem RidgeYaks game vs. the Hickory Crawdads at Carilion Clinic Field on May 28. Although the good guys lost, we enjoyed a beautiful evening of great conversation and America's pastime. Thank you to Director Max Stephenson Jr., Communications Coordinator Billy Parvatam, and Graduate Assistant Brad Stephens for planning the event.

Photo credit: Billy Parvatam.

IPG 20th Anniversary Celebration

The Institute will host a 20th anniversary celebration event!!! at Hahn Horticulture Garden on Virginia Tech's campus Thursday Sept. 24 from 4:30-6:30 pm. Please hold this date and time on your calendars. Details to follow.

Photo: Hahn Horticulture Garden. Photo courtesy of Hahn Horticulture Garden.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

IPG Welcomes Carmen Monico

IPG is pleased to welcome Dr. Carmen Monico to our team as a Non-Resident Research Fellow! She is an Associate Professor and Joint Master of Social Work Program Co-Director at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Dr. Monico's research interests include social work practice, social justice, family programs, and community engaged research. We are delighted to have her join us.

In Memoriam: Lisa Poley

The Institute extends our sincere condolences to the family of Dr. Lisa Poley on her untimely passing. Dr. Poley was a deeply gifted and talented woman who was dedicated to a life of service. IPG Director Dr. Max Stephenson Jr. served as her dissertation advisor, which she completed in 2007 in the then College of Architecture and Urban Studies. You may read her obituary here. We will miss her.

COLLABORATING FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Harry Gleason serves as the Project Manager at the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) at Virginia Tech. CDAC is an outreach center in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design that employs students and provides planning and design assistance to communities and non-profit organizations throughout Virginia. Harry's background includes undergraduate study in Horticulture and graduate study in Landscape Architecture, both at Virginia Tech.

At CDAC, Harry focuses on assisting communities in fostering a sense of place while preserving historic integrity and integrating new design elements to interpret and highlight architectural and landscape heritage. He enjoys supporting projects that tell the stories of communities, instilling pride in their local identity.

Harry works with Elizabeth Gilboy, Director of CDAC, and multidisciplinary teams of students and faculty to support community projects that improve the quality of life of citizens by designing for their physical, psychological, and intellectual well-being as well as the health of the environment. These efforts often integrate new design elements to interpret and highlight the architectural and landscape heritage of the areas in which CDAC is operating.

The most recently complete CDAC project was a conceptual redevelopment plan for the Donkenny property in Floyd, VA. The multidisciplinary team included faculty of the Virginia Tech Center for Historic Preservation, graduate and undergraduate students from the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, as well as a team of graduate students and faculty from the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance. The team worked with community stakeholders to generate a plan to redevelop the property for housing that accommodates the local workforce and/or residents who are aging in place and in need of independent living units. Ongoing Center projects include working with multidisciplinary teams on an Oral History for the Stokesland community in Danville, a community wide revitalization for Amonate in Tazewell County, a Memorial Path and Gathering area at the Reynolds Homestead in Critz, a Conceptual Master Plan Update for Ellis Acres Park in Buckingham County, a Conceptual Site Master Plan for the Downtown Greens, Belman Road Campus in Fredericksburg and, a Conceptual Redevelopment Plan for the Former Edgemont Primary School in Covington.

Before joining CDAC, Harry worked as a Downtown Revitalization Program Manager, Zoning Administrator, and Community Development Planner, applying design and planning tools to urban renewal and community development.

Outside of his professional work, Harry enjoys taking part in historic preservation activities, including restoration of his own National Register-listed property, and studying woody and herbaceous plant materials and garden design.

Shadrack Nii Yarboi Yartey is a doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural Leadership and Community Education at Virginia Tech, where his work sits at the intersection of development communication, policy advocacy, and community transformation. Increasingly, his scholarly focus has turned to agricultural communication and how strategic advocacy can shape food and agricultural policy. Shadrack is a trained journalist and seasoned development communication professional with more than a decade of hands-on experience. He brings a rare combination of practitioner instinct and academic rigor to everything he does, whether in the field, the classroom, or the archive.

His research weaves together food systems, communication, and community change, drawing on storytelling, participatory approaches, and advocacy to amplify the voices of smallholder farmers and underserved communities navigating the often-murky terrain of food policy and sustainable development. At the heart of his dissertation is a simple question: how can communication strategies drive social change and mobilize collective action on climate change to strengthen community food systems? As a Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation fellow, he has taken that question beyond the page, traveling across Virginia as a research assistant on “Cultivating Rural Vitality in Virginia's Food System: Planning for Resilience” and co-facilitating twelve listening sessions on building food system resilience across the Commonwealth.

Shadrack's project portfolio reflects both the breadth of his experience and the depth of his commitments. He has worked on initiatives funded by the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, Bloomberg Philanthropies, GIZ, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, the Global Road Safety Partnership, and the British High Commission in Accra. One achievement stands out: his advocacy helped secure coverage for childhood cancer under Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme, a demonstration of what strategic communication and sustained policy engagement can accomplish.

At Virginia Tech, he has also been involved with the Institute for Policy and Governance (IPG)

through several community-engaged research initiatives, most notably a listening session in

Roanoke focused on improving resident engagement with the city government. He regards IPG Director Dr. Max Stephenson Jr. as a mentor and has taken multiple seminars with him. Beyond research, Shadrack is actively invested in the next generation of communicators; he served as a judge for the Statewide Future Farmers of America (FFA) Life Science Communication competition in summer 2025 and will serve as lead instructor for the Life Science Communication course in fall 2026.

Fun fact: Shadrack’s professional and research journey has taken him from working with

local communities and policymakers in Ghana to engaging with policymakers in the United

States. Along the way, he has developed a passion for translating complex research findings

into stories and insights that are easy to understand and resonate with people. Shadrack

enjoys bridging the gap between academic research and real-world experiences, making

research more accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.

Dr. Raj GC is an Assistant Professor and Extension Urban Agriculture Specialist at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. In this role, his primary responsibility is to provide educational leadership in the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of research-based statewide urban agriculture extension programs designed to meet the needs of limited-resource audiences in North Carolina.

Previously, he served as a Research Scientist and Adjunct Faculty at Virginia Tech. He has also worked with international development organizations as a water and agricultural expert, including International Development Enterprises (iDE), the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC), and Heifer International. His work in these roles focused on water and agricultural technologies and best practices, as well as strengthening connections between people and local food systems in smallholder and resource-constrained farming contexts.

He earned his PhD from Virginia Tech in 2020 in Planning, Governance and Globalization (PGG), within the Urban and Environmental Design and Planning track. IPG Director Dr. Max Stephenson Jr. served as a member of Dr. GC's doctoral advisory committee, and was honored to serve as his hooding faculty member when Dr. GC participated in the Fall 2023 Graduate Commencement at Virginia Tech. His research explores the commercialization of smallholder agriculture, factors enabling the productive use of water, and the sustainability of water–food systems. During his tenure as a student, Dr. GC was engaged with the Community Change Collaborative and participated in the Trustees without Border podcast series.

COMMENTARIES, ESSAYS & PUBLICATIONS

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