Friends of VCU Libraries Board

Kathleen Burke Barrett, B.S. ‘71, M.S. ‘73

Kathleen Burke Barrett recently retired from St. Joseph’s Villa after an entire career in education and philanthropy. She has more than 35 years’ experience in fundraising and management in nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the Villa, Ms. Barrett served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has received numerous awards for her community leadership, including: the 2005 VCU Business School Alumna of the Year; 2009 Henrico County Community Leader of the Year Award; 2011 Outstanding Woman Award from the YWCA; 2013 Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities; and 2017 Ukrop Community Vision Award from Leadership Metro Richmond. Ms. Barrett earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Business School and was adjunct faculty at both the Business School and the Wilder School. She earned a certificate in Leadership and Strategic Planning in Non-Profit Organizations from Harvard University in 1998. She is a member of the Leadership Metro Richmond class of 2003, the Lead Virginia class of 2005, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) where she has served as president, and Virginia Association of Fund Raising Executives (VAFRE). Ms. Barrett has chaired numerous nonprofit boards, and has served on the Executive Committee of the ChamberRVA and the Bon Secours Foundation boards. She currently serves on the Benedictine Foundation Board and on the Estate Planning Council of Richmond. Kathleen was a member of the FOL Board and served as President of the FOL Board in the late ‘90s and ‘00s.

Peter Blake, B.A. ‘80, M.S. ‘88

Peter Blake recently retired from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, where he served as its director from 2012 to 2024. He previously worked as a vice chancellor for the Virginia Community College System, as Deputy Secretary and Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as a legislative analyst for the Virginia House Appropriations Committee. He began his work for the Commonwealth at the Department of Planning and Budget and SCHEV. Out of college, he worked for several publications in the greater Richmond area. He holds a history degree and a mass communications degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he served as editor of the Commonwealth Times. He is a member of the 2008 class of Lead Virginia and completed The Executive Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business in 2016. He has served on several state and regional education-related boards, including the Richmond Public Library and the Richmond Public Library Foundation.

Vicky Bleick

Vicky has worked in public, academic and special libraries. She was a library staff member in the VCUArts Library, Doha, Qatar from 2004-2013. She has lived in Richmond, Virginia since 1976. Vicky is a graduate of California State University at Chico, California with a B.A. degree in English.

Alonzo Brooks, B.S. ‘06

Membership & Support Committee Chair

Alonzo Brooks is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Business Management.

With 15+ years of multi-line claims and training experience, inclusive of personal lines, commercial lines and local government liability, Alonzo is currently employed by Berkley Mid-Atlantic Insurance Group where he is the Training Specialist and Intern Program Coordinator. In addition, Alonzo recently founded Brooks & Associates Consulting where he provides personalized consulting services to help clients cultivate and align behaviors with the organizational structure for maximum output and productivity.

He is the Co-Program Manager of the VCU African American Alumni Council Mentoring Circle. Alonzo enjoys managing the program as he finds joy in enhancing mentee-mentor relationships to ensure that he continues to help others grow, develop and reach their full potential.

Jane Dowrick, BA '74, MEd '92

Jane is grateful for her VCU student experience, grounding her in the liberal arts and preparing her for work in education. After graduation in 1974 she worked as an administrative assistant and then as a VISTA volunteer at MCV with the Cancer Rehab Project (now the Massey Cancer Center). She went on to work in human resources with the Commonwealth of Virginia and during that time served on the transition teams of Governors Robb and Baliles. After her graduate work at VCU, Jane and her family moved to Baton Rouge LA where she worked with a housing development program "Fixup Mid City" and helped to start a cotillion for teens. On her move back to Richmond she served as the founding director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Richmond. Now retired, Jane enjoys hiking, travel, art classes and work as a facilitator of small groups with her church.

Barbie Dunn, B.S. ‘70, Ph.D. ‘84

Barbara Hall Dunn (Barbie) is a proud alumna of VCU (B.S. Nursing, Ph.D. Social Policy/Social Work), where she spent many hours in the stacks. She also received a master’s in pediatric nursing at UVA. At VCU she has been a faculty member in the School of Nursing and served on the Boards of the MCV Alumni Association, the MCV Foundation, and the VCU Alumni

Council. Ms. Dunn has more than 40 years of experience working with public and private nonprofit organizations, serving in various paid and volunteer capacities. Her nursing positions have included work as a public health nurse, pediatric nurse practitioner, faculty member, Executive Director of a national specialty nursing organization (NAPNAP), and founding editor of a national professional journal (Nursing Economics). During the last 15 years of her career, she worked as an independent consultant to health and human service organizations, with a special interest and focus on capacity building. Her clients ranged from small, start-up organizations to colleges and universities and statewide grant-making organizations. In retirement, she’s a volunteer clinician with the Virginia Department of Health’s Medical Reserve Corps, works on her golf game and wildlife photography skills, and continues to serve on nonprofit boards and committees.

Kenneth Warren Foster, B.F.A. '01/A

Kenneth Warren Foster is an instructional technologist and faculty developer who engages medical educators at VCU School of Medicine to re-imagine, reframe, and revitalize traditional teaching methods to be purposely innovative, inclusive, and accessible for diverse learning contexts. He supports online learning and assessment, promotes the scholarship of teaching and learning, and teaches a graduate course focused on educational technology for medical education. Ken has developed a thriving curriculum around digital storytelling and narrative medicine that promotes reflective practice for medical students and residents. A proud VCUarts alum, Kenneth additionally holds degrees from UVA (M.Ed. '04/E and Ed.D. '11/E).

Stephanie L. Holt, B.S. '74/E

Past-President, Governance Committee Chair

Stephanie L. Holt is a proud VCU alumna. She began her career teaching business in Richmond Public Schools for 5 years, and spent the rest of her career working for Xerox Corporation in sales with a special focus in community involvement and retired after 32 years. She remains an active member of the VCU community, as a committee member for the Friends of VCU Libraries Rising Scholars. Stephanie has endowed a School of Education scholarship in the memory of her parents Rebecca and Norris Holt. She served on the VCU Alumni Board for 16 years and held the office of Secretary for several years. Stephanie was also a member of the School of Education Alumni Council for 25 years and served as President for 12 years. She has served 2 previous terms on the VCU Friends of the Library board, and was president of the board from 2016 - 2018. Stephanie helped establish the VCU Rising Scholars Award (formerly the Monroe Scholars). Stephanie was awarded the Alumni Star Award from the VCU School of Education in 2005, and is a member of the VCU Founders Society. She has a passion for student scholarship and all things VCU.

Sally Holzgrefe, M.Ed. ‘88

Sally Holzgrefe was raised in Massachusetts and moved to Richmond at age 16. Following graduation from Collegiate School, she began her career studying philosophy and religion and playing lacrosse at James Madison University (B.A.), received her M.Ed. in counseling from VCU, taught religion at Saint Gertrude High School, coached lacrosse at University of Richmond, and served as Alumni Director at Collegiate School.

Following the birth of her daughter, Sally created a part-time career rotating between director of leadership development programs & manager of special events for the VCU office of Donor Relations, the Brandcenter, Massey, and the University of Virginia. She is currently the director of a VCU leadership development program for peer recovery counselors and manages the promotion of her husband’s hobby @steelartbygreg.

Sally is co-founder of the Wm Fox School theatre program (2002-), co-founder of a diversity group to build trust in RVA (2007-2015), and founder of the Fan Arts Stroll (2020-). She was a reader for the Virginia Voice and WRIR’s Rainbow Minute and enjoys proof-reading for an aspiring author, feeling like a kid on her bike, planning adventure travel for her family, growing flowers, doodling with a leaky pen, and reading the work of beautiful writers.

Monica Jiminez-Salbach

As a VCU student, Monica was the inaugural winner of the FOL Scholarship in 2021 and made time for involvement in campus activities through the PACE Center and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. A native of Lima, Peru, she was a graphic design major at VCU. Her work and volunteer experience includes the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the non-profit organization Latinos of Virginia Empowerment Center, and she currently works for Dominion Energy.

Tiona Johnson, B.S. ’13/H&S and B.S. ‘13/LS

Tiona Johnson is a proud VCU alumnus from Danville, VA. She is a lifetime learner who supports informed decision-making professionally as an Environmental Planner and Cartographer. Tiona holds dual B.S. (’13 VCU) and M.S. (’16 VA Tech) degrees in Urban Planning and Natural Resources. During Tiona’s time at VCU, she held multiple student jobs related to literacy and VCU Libraries. She worked as a literacy coach for Elementary-aged children through America Reads and at Cabell library “in the stacks” and the Preservation Department. She is also a proud Old Girl of the VCU Women’s Rugby Club. Currently, she serves as a Volunteer Alumni Leader for VCU’s Atlanta chapter.

Cornelia “Çam” L. Jones

Cornelia “Çam” L. Jones, a Petersburg, Va. native educated in that city’s Public School System, was awarded the B.S. in biology by Virginia State University in 1970. Her work history began in high school as a Head Start teacher aid and was followed by a college work study job as a laboratory technician in the biology department. On graduation she began a third job at MCV/VCU that lasted just short of 40 years. In the areas of Microbiology & Immunology education, biomedical research and veterinary support, her responsibilities metamorphosed, with the field, to include vaccine development research, tissue culture, veterinary diagnostics and disease surveillance testing, biohazards containment, personnel safety training, purchase and import/export of 12 species purpose-bred, genetically defined research animals for use as models of disease at VCU. Further study at VCU has included medical mycology, photography, biochemistry, pathogenic bacteriology, hematology, jewelry making and oral history. Çam’s hobbies have always included gardening, arts & crafts, cooking and sitting/learning at the feet of great knowers and thinkers who have visited this region. On retirement, new hobbies have become genetic genealogy study and quilt making.

Dale Kalkofen, M.A.E. ‘76

Dr. Kalkofen’s long career in public school education included 25 years in Richmond VA as a teacher and principal, and service in executive positions in Boston MA, Memphis TN, and Chesterfield, VA. She was recognized as an advocate for systemic reform who successfully engaged teachers, principals, parents and the community in improving the status quo with positive results for students. Throughout the years, she was a strong participant and leader in community engagement with numerous organizations and boards. This includes years of work with VCU Alumni including serving as President from 2016-2020. She was a founding member of the Rising Scholars now led by Friends of the VCU Libraries. She continues to advocate and support community excellence through education at all levels.

Suzanne Lee, B.S. ‘76/N

Community Outreach & Engagement Committee Chair

Suzanne Lee is a long-time member of the Friends of the Library and a devoted Rams fan. Retired from a forty-year career in bedside nursing, teaching and administration, Suzanne’s areas of expertise include neurology nursing, gerontology and behavioral health care. Suzanne was a clinical director of nursing, and taught courses in pharmacology, trauma informed patient care, and non-violent crisis intervention. She is a contributor to the Church Hill Association Newsletter, and serves as Vice President of the Church Hill Association.

Catherine Mishler

Catherine holds a B.A. in History and M.A. in Library and Information Science from Simmons University. She is retired after more than forty years of Reference and management services in academic, public, and state libraries including Duke University, State University of New York, Buffalo Public Library, Newberry Saluda Regional Library, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, and the Library of Virginia. Catherine’s areas of expertise include federal, state, local, and UN documents and Virginia history, government, and genealogy. She now loves traveling, the Richmond Garden Club, and volunteering at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Erin Hollaway Palmer

Erin Hollaway Palmer is an independent editor and graphic designer. The former managing editor of Parade and National Geographic Adventure magazines, she has worked on a wide variety of print and online publications over the past 17 years. Erin is a founding member of the Friends of East End Cemetery, the all-volunteer nonprofit that until 2020 led the effort to reclaim the historic African American burial ground from nature and neglect. Her East End–related research and writing are featured on the website she helped create, eastendcemeteryrva.com. Erin graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in French.

Michael Portillo, BS '22/B

Michael Portillo is a recent graduate of VCU and a current M.A. candidate at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). As an undergraduate, Michael was a member of the Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee (CLUAC) for three consecutive years. Outside of the library, Michael held multiple leadership positions in VCU organizations including The Student Economic Association and The Global Education Office. Professionally, Michael is part of the U.S. diplomatic corps and will join the Foreign Service with the Pickering Fellowship after completing his Master's degree.

Carol Stanfield

President

Carol Stanfield holds a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from the VCU School of Mass Communications (1992). After several years of toil in the control rooms of broadcast news outlets in Richmond, she shifted her focus to the nascent world of internet news. She traveled the country assisting broadcast news stations in their efforts to share news online as well as on-air. After a stint managing content and websites with The Council of Better Business Bureaus (now called IABBB), she has shifted focus and works as Director of Project Management for BBB National Programs, a developer of independent third-party programs to guide, aid, and address issues of business ethics, advertising, data privacy and dispute resolution.

Anaya Surve

Anaya Surve is a pre-med Bioinformatics major from the local Richmond area. She spends most of her free time reading, listening to music/podcasts, doing yoga, and volunteering. Organizations she is involved with are ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, CirclesRVA, and Full Circle Grief Center. Anaya was the recipient of a Rising Scholars (formerly Monroe Scholars) award and scholarship. "The rigorous curriculum I take results in me spending many late nights in the library utilizing the many resources provided. I even picked my apartment so that I could live as close to the library as possible! I am incredibly excited to be a part of the board.“

Karen Wawrzyn, M.S. ‘86

Raised in Milwaukee WI, Karen received a B.S. in Occupational Therapy (OT) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After working for 5 years in hospitals and in pediatrics and the school system, she came to Richmond for graduate school at MCV. She earned an M.S. in OT with a concentration in hand management. She spent countless hours in the Health Sciences Library. Karen made Richmond home after marrying her late husband, Ed Peeples (former Friends of the Library Board member and president). Karen retired several ago after spending a career as a certified hand therapist (CHT) in orthopedic practices. She has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Hand Therapy, and as a board member of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT), was a co-editor of the ASHT newsletter, and served on the editorial board of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Since retirement, Karen enjoys time walking, swimming, and traveling. She spends time modern quilting, is a member of a modern quilting guild, volunteers at a local food bank and the VMFA council.