Hi everyone! My name is John Cheney and I am the Chief off Staff to our Vice President and Dean of Students in Student Affairs. I work most closely with Transfer Student Support, some of our student leadership programs including MLI and L2K. I am originally from Chicago, IL and am happy to talk about all the best food and museums in the Chicagoland area! I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2013 with a B.S.ed. in Art Education and a B.F.A in Printmaking and completed my M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Miami University in 2016. My favorite things about living in Charlottesville are exploring local restaurants, enjoying kayaking on the Rivanna River, taking advantage of all of the special events and festivals that are hosted in this town each year.

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... The University, Student Engagement, general student resources, the best restaurants in Charlottesville

Alex (they/them) joined the Multicultural Student Services team as a Program Coordinator in 2019 and was promoted to Assistant Director in 2021. Prior to joining the Multicultural Student Services team, Alex earned their Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs at The Ohio State University. During their time at Ohio State, Alex served as a Graduate Associate for Social Justice Engagement in the Multicultural Center, as well as a Graduate Advisor in Sorority & Fraternity Life. Alex graduated from The College of William and Mary in 2017, where they received degrees in Public Policy and Environmental Science. Alex loves spending time outdoors and enjoying nature. Be sure to ask them about their three guinea pigs: Charlie, Gigi, and Brandi. Alex is responsible for the development and administration of LGBTQ-related programs and services and manages all aspects of the LGBTQ Center, with emphases on providing resources, support, and programming for LGBTQ students and student organizations.

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... LGBTQ+ Support; Connection to Academic, Mental Health, and Financial Resources; Opportunities to Dialogue across Difference

My name is Demarcus Merritt, Sr. joined UVA’s Housing & Residence Life in January 2022 as an Assistant Dean of Students. I’m also a Co-Advisor for UVA’s Second Year Council. I work most closely with new transfer students living on grounds with us but look forward to connecting with each of you! I work with a team that provides direct supervision and development to full-time professionals at the Residence Life Coordinator role and indirect support to the resident staff program; which comprises over 300 SR and RA student staff. His primary role is overseeing the design, implementation, and assessment for the Connect2Grounds Residential Program, which is designed specifically for rising second-year students to support and enhance the student experience. I love spending time with my partner and our two little Black boys of joy! I am a proud HBCU alum, having obtained a Master of Science in Sport Management (2007) and a Bachelor of Science in Health & Physical Education from Virginia State University. I am a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and was a previous fourth year doctoral student with the University of North Carolina Greensboro’s Educational Studies (Higher Education) program. Some UVA / Charlottesville faves are eating on the lawn on a fall or spring day when there is perfect weather, enjoying Carpe Donuts (a MUST have), enjoying the various eateries and sporting events the city has to offer.

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... living on Grounds, connecting to Grounds, and being a part of the HRL Connect2Grounds program.

Greetings! My name is Leah Blue and I work within Enrollment Services as the Transfer Advocate. I work most closely with prospective and current transfer students from Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) to understand and support the community college transfer experience and needs. I grew up in Southwest Virginia and was the first in my family to go to college. I completed an associate of applied science degree prior to transferring to a large four-year public institution. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2011 with a B.S. in Human Serivces and my M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Higher Education Administration in 2014. Although I am an introvert I do not like to stay home much. I appreciate that the Charlottesville area offers endless possibilities for events and access to many different places, and for the most part my family doesn't mind me dragging them along, too.

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... General Transfer Guidance

Hi y’all! I am the Research and Special Projects Manager for the Contemplative Sciences Center. Currently, I design programs and opportunities for students to connect with wellbeing across all aspects of their lives. I mentor students to help them make sense of their college experience and explore the role of purpose in their life. As a Charlottesville native and a second generation Hoo, I have deep love for Bodo’s, Christian’s Pizza, C’Ville Weekly, and WTJU. I have a master’s in education from UVA’s School of Education and Human Development (’19) and a bachelor’s of arts in psychology from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. My partner and I live nearby with our cats, Shrimpy and Squid, who both give high fives.

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... wellbeing across all aspects of life, navigating UVA systems, making sense and finding focus of college experience, perfecting your Bodo's order

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... As the College Life Skills Coach, I support students in the College of Arts & Sciences with anything related to their academics and making the most of their time here at UVA. I enjoy meeting with students one-on-one to discuss topics like time management, study strategies, transitioning to UVA, making connections on grounds and more. I take a coaching approach where I spend a lot of time listening and asking questions. Together, we will explore your goals/interests/needs, identify barriers that may exist, and brainstorm creative strategies/solutions, as well as additional resources for support. I hope that you will find a meeting with me or a workshop you attend to be encouraging, practical and helpful. If you would like to know more or would like to set up a time to chat, please feel free to email me.

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... study strategies, time management and procrastination, navigating the university, goal setting, and more!

Hello! My name is Amanda Warren and I work in the Office of Health Promotion as part of the Department of Student Health and Wellness. I work very closely with the Peer Health Educators (PHE) and other signature outreach and prevention programs that have to do with well-being topics. I graduated from SUNY Cortland with a BSED in Health Education and earned my MS in Health Education from Ithaca College. Fun fact: I transferred colleges between my first and second year of undergraduate studies, so there's a special place in my heart for supporting the transfer student experience. I'm originally from upstate NY, so I LOVE the weather in Virginia (especially in the "winter"), and also enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, and exploring all of the beautiful parks in the area.

For Transfer students, I serve as a resource on ... well-being programming, support resources, and outreach opportunities in Student Health and Wellness.