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VT Women Connect

Welcome to VT Women Connect

Aligned with the mission of  The Virginia Network, the purpose of VT Women Connect is to promote, develop and support Virginia Tech’s professional women by providing a forum to forge relationships, develop supportive networks, and share ideas and information. Facilitated by Virginia Tech’s current IRs, Donna Cassell Ratcliffe, Director of Career and Professional Development and Anna LoMascolo, Co-Director of the Women’s Center, along with an amazing advisory committee of VT administrators from across the university, VT Women Connect hosts: regular programming of interest to leaders on campus; a listserv to disseminate information about upcoming campus programs and news from The Virginia Network; a listserv for distributing job listings from higher ed institutions across the Commonwealth; and other opportunities for VT professionals to connect and network with one another. 

VT Women Connect programming is open to all and is designed for marginalized genders including women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binary and gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women in higher education leadership.

Call for Nominations: VT Institutional Representatives to The Virginia Network

VT Women Connect hosts activities supporting the mission of the ACE Virginia Network of Women in Higher Education (“The Virginia Network”) and is facilitated by Virginia Tech’s Institutional Representatives (2 ‘IRs’) to The Virginia Network, along with an advisory committee comprised of VT faculty and staff women.  After many wonderful years of collaboration and partnership, the current IRs – Donna Cassell Ratcliffe and Anna LoMascolo – will be stepping down from their roles this spring. 

We invite and encourage nominations for Virginia Tech’s next Institutional Representative(s) to The Virginia Network.  Individuals may nominate others and/or themselves by completing this brief survey. The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 24, 2003 at 5PM EST. A selection committee will identify finalists to advance to President Sands, who will formally appoint the new IRs.

Virginia Tech has a long and deep history with The Virginia Network, including participation in the Senior Leadership Program, connection through the IR program, attendance at the annual conference, and appointments to the Executive Board, including past and emerita members Drs. Norrine Bailey Spencer, Patricia Hyer, Ellen Plummer, Karen Eley Sanders, and current board members Drs. Leanna Blevins and Anna LoMascolo.  Below you will find more information to answer your questions about The Virginia Network; the Institutional Representative role; and a brief history of VT Women Connect.

What is The Virginia Network?

The mission of the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network is to identify, develop, advance, and support women in higher education at the national, state, and local levels. The goals of both The Network (national) and The Virginia Network are to promote women's leadership in higher education and throughout society as a whole; to create an educational, social, and political climate in which women, in all their diversity, can participate equally with men in setting public agendas; to facilitate connections among women in various sectors of higher education and with other organizations and networks with shared goals on the institutional, state, regional, professional, national, and international levels; and to foster strategic alliances and facilitate effective partnerships between women and men in the workplace.

What does an Institutional Representative (IR) do?

Each public and private college in the Commonwealth is asked to identify a woman administrator on their campus who will serve as a link to the Virginia Network and as a catalyst for activities at the home campus. These individuals are called Institutional Representatives (IRs). Their role is to keep women administrators on their campus informed of activities of the Virginia Network and to encourage their involvement; to act as advocates for women on their campuses; and to encourage the advancement of women in higher education locally and throughout the state. The IRs meet each fall to discuss programming and to network among themselves. They are also linked by an e-mail listserv that allows them to post job openings on their campus and to keep in touch with others throughout the state. 

The Institutional Representative (IR) is a pivotal person in the chain of individuals interested in the advancement of women in higher education administration. She serves as a catalyst for innovation among women in higher education and as a communication link between women administrators in post-secondary education and the Virginia Network of the American Council on Education Office of Women in Higher Education. The Institutional Representative serves as an advocate, communications link, and program participant and planner.

What is VT Women Connect and how is it related to the Institutional Representative (IR) role?

Aligned with the mission of The Virginia Network, the purpose of VT Women Connect is to promote, develop and support Virginia Tech’s professional women by providing a forum to forge relationships, develop supportive networks, and share ideas and information.  Facilitated by Virginia Tech’s current IRs, Donna Cassell Ratcliffe, Director of Career and Professional Development and Anna LoMascolo, Co-Director of the Women’s Center, along with an amazing advisory committee of VT administrators from across the university, VT Women Connect hosts: regular programming of interest to women leaders on campus; a listserv to disseminate information about upcoming campus programs and news from The Virginia Network; a listserv for distributing job listings from higher ed institutions across the Commonwealth; and other opportunities for VT women to connect and network with one another. Virginia Tech’s Institutional Representatives also lead the nomination process for VT women interested in participating in the Senior Leadership Seminar program. Finally, The Virginia Network hosts two IR meetings per academic year, one in October and the other in conjunction with the annual state conference in late May/early June. This is an amazing opportunity to network with other IRs and women leaders from across the Commonwealth. 

I am interested in nominating someone and/or being considered for the IR role at Virginia Tech.  What do I do next?

If you wish to nominate someone else, or you wish to nominate yourself, simply complete this brief survey no later than Friday, February 24, 2003. You may want to learn more about the IR role and peruse the directory of IRs across Virginia. Also, if you are interested in the IR role, you may wish to discuss this opportunity with your supervisor to ensure that you will be supported in this capacity, including professional development funds to support your participation in the IR meetings. These meetings are not mandatory, but are incredible development and networking opportunities, as you will be part of one of the oldest and most vibrant women’s networks in the country. Finally, if you would like to connect with Donna and/or Anna to discuss the role in more detail, do not hesitate to reach out.

Then what?

Donna and Anna will work closely with a selection committee to advance the successful nominees to President Sands for review.  Dr. Sands will then formally appoint Virginia Tech’s newest Institutional Representatives. Once this process has been formalized, we will highlight the appointment through Virginia Tech’s communications mechanisms and host a late spring leadership luncheon to introduce the new IRs! Anna, in her role at the VT Women’s Center and as part of the of The Executive Board of The Virginia Network, will continue to provide support and collaborate with the new IRs.

Thank you so much for your interest and for sharing this information far and wide. We are so excited for this next chapter in VT Women Connect!

VT Women Connect Directory

VT Women Connect is launching an exciting new opportunity for Virginia Tech women (employees) to network and connect around areas of expertise and mutual interest through the VT Women Connect Directory, developed in collaboration with members of the Business and Management Systems team. You can log-in by entering your username in the form of hokies\pid.

How Do I Register to be Included in the Directory?

To register, follow the simple steps below:

  1. Email wc@spmail.bams.vt.edu
  2. The site creates a profile for the user filling in First and Last Name, title, department, phone number and email.
  3. The site sends an email to the user with a link that allows them to finish their profile.
  4. Upon completing the profile, the user will check a box to publish.
  5. An email will route to an administrator for approval.
  6. The profile will be published.

How Do I Review Entries in the Directory?

Access the directory. You will need to log-in with your VT PID.

If you have questions about VT Women Connect, or want more information, please email IRs Anna LoMascolo and Donna Cassell Ratcliffe.