Category Archives: New Employee

IET New Employee Spotlights

We recently brought on two new full-time members to our team, Justin Owen and J. Braden Traw.

Justin Owen, IET Career and Technical Education Coordinator

Justin joined the NOVA IET team in late 2023. A Danville native, Justin has over 17 years of experience in the manufacturing sector and higher education. His most significant industrial experience came from Babcock and Wilcox Technologies, a manufacturer of Naval nuclear components. In addition, he has also served as an Instructor of Precision Machining Technology for Pittsylvania County Schools and most recently Danville Community College. In these positions, Justin cultivated dual enrollment pipelines, led career and technical student organizations, developed credential-based accelerated training for the defense industry, and set goals of helping students find their careers in the skilled workforce. Justin holds multiple industry certifications, an Associate of Applied Science in Integrated Machining Technology from Danville Community College, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from Averett University. In his spare time, Justin enjoys his family, outdoor activities, and looks forward to exploring all that Northern Virginia has to offer.

Justin can be reached at jlowen@nvcc.edu


J. Braden Traw, IET Recruitment and Engagement Specialist

Braden is excited to support NOVA’S IET department’s goals of increasing student recruitment and engagement. He is particularly excited to support underrepresented groups that have historically experienced barriers in engaging with STEM fields. Previously he has worked with special needs children in a variety of educational and supportive capacities. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University with a minor in Creative Writing. In his free time he likes reading books, writing poetry, and learning about history.

Contact Braden at jtraw@nvcc.edu

 

Welcome Andy Chaves, NOVA SySTEMic’s New CTE Coordinator!

Andy is excited to join NOVA SySTEMic as our new CTE (Career and Technical Education) Director. Andy promotes and supports public/private partnerships through CTE programs. He served as the Chair of the National Advisory Board and Executive Committee of DECA while also serving on the Board of Directors of DECA, Inc.

Andy is a retired executive from Marriott International, Inc. where he worked for almost 31 years. He spearheaded Marriott’s youth strategies and partnership efforts supporting engagement initiatives across the globe. A graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, he has more than 35 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry.

Andy was Board Chairman of Hospitality High School of Washington, DC, A Public Charter School.  He represented Marriott as liaison to the National Urban League, UnidosUS, NBMBAA, Prospanica, NABA, NRAEF’s ProStart, AH&LA Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP) and various CTE programs and councils. He has served on the Advisory Board for career and technical program resources development with the Glencoe McGraw-Hill publisher.

Andy was also the founding President of the Montgomery County Public Schools Students Foundation for Hospitality and Restaurant Management (FHRM). As a Human Resources professional, Andy understands that investing in young people and giving back are essential for the future growth of any industry.  These public/private partnerships are what make career and technical education (CTE) programs succeed.  His greatest mentoring efforts are in raising his two children and encouraging them to become life-long learners and continuous career explorers.

Andy can be reached at machaves@nvcc.edu

New IET Employee Spotlight

Chris Russell: IET Project Manager

Chris was first drawn to STEM outreach in high school, where he worked as a robotics camp instructor and a peer tutor. Chris earned his BS in Chemistry Education from the University of Virginia, an MA in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and will defend his PhD in Screen Cultures at Northwestern in December 2021. His dissertation, “Nerds, Hackers, and Gamers: Performing Masculinity in Computing Cultures,” examines the historical relationship between masculinity and computers as it developed during the 80s and 90s. In addition to his historical work, Chris has worked to broaden participation in the STEM disciplines through developing inclusive and research-centered outreach programs.

Prior to coming to NOVA, Chris was a research fellow at the Game Changer Design Lab at the University of Chicago, where he worked to design and implement game-based STEM enrichment camps for at-risk youth. After his tenure at Game Changer, Chris went on found his own educational game company, working with Ashburn non-profit JASON Learning to publish a suite of analog games for middle school science classrooms. At NOVA, he hopes to help grow the IET division’s capacity to produce innovative STEM programs and integrate empirically-proven strategies into practice.

Chris recently moved to Fairfax, VA and can be found surveying regional playgrounds with his two kids, Kieran and Maya.

New Employee Spotlights – Oct 2019

We’re glad to welcome two new team members to the IET division, Brittany Hollis, who is an IET Career Coach and Valerie Seidel, a graphic designer with NOVA SySTEMic.


Brittany Hollis

Brittany holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill) and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University (NC State). Before coming to NOVA Brittany worked in the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Living Learning Village at NC State as the graduate assistant overseeing the WISE peer mentor program. In this role she planned student development, academic, career, and social events and activities and supported and advised WISE student leader staff.

Brittany also has experience working in Institutional Equity and Diversity departments at NC State and UNC Chapel Hill, piloting new initiatives focusing on equity in Higher Education. She has also presented programs and trainings on issues related to social justice, STEM education, and diversity and inclusion at the local, state, and national level.

Brittany taught High School Biology for two years in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System before moving into the Student Affairs and Higher Education Profession. In her free time, Brittany enjoys listening to podcasts, writing, and all things DIY.

Brittany can be reached at bhollis@nvcc.edu


Valerie Seidel

Valerie started her career as a clothing production coordinator at Ann Inc. in New York City. After college, she secured an Event Coordinator position at Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club in Gainesville, VA. She was introduced to hands-on STEM through volunteering at robotics competitions for NOVA, and will use her expertise in event management, graphic design, and fashion to promote STEM throughout the community. Valerie holds a bachelor’s degree in Merchandising with a minor in Business from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her free time, she loves to sew, craft, create, cuddle with her cat and binge watch Netflix.

Valerie can be reached at vseidel@nvcc.edu