“UNlimited Leadership” Panel Discussion
Join us virtually for an online leadership panel discussion, where we will ask a few questions of VCU leaders concerning their journeys to leadership, their personal leadership style, and the qualities of leadership that they feel are necessary in today’s world. The panel discussion will take place virtually via Zoom, and will be a webinar format with a moderator asking questions of each panel member. Audience members will be able to send in questions via chat and Q&A.
Dr. Aaron Hart
Vice President, Division of Student Affairs
Dr. Aaron J. Hart currently serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at VCU. Dr. Hart brings over 24 years of experience in higher education administration, overseeing the student affairs portfolio, including, but not limited to, the Dean of Student Office, Residential Life and Housing, Campus Recreation and Well-being, and University Counseling Services. Dr. Hart has humble beginnings, born and raised on the southside of Chicago to hard-working parents who never attended college but understood the value, and instilled the importance, of higher education. Dr. Hart is a proud Life-Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Hart received his doctorate from Arizona State University in Higher and Postsecondary Education. He has significant experience in critical areas within student affairs related to strategic planning, supervision, student development, multicultural competencies, leadership, and budgetary administration. Dr. Hart has authored several articles, book chapters and presented at national conferences on various topics related to best practices in student affairs, fraternity and sorority life, the advocacy of underrepresented students and staff in higher education, organizational and team development, and the effective implementation of co-curricular initiatives.
Dr. Katy Washington
Chief Accessibility Officer, Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness, and Success
Katy Washington, J.D., PhD., is the inaugural Chief Accessibility Officer at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness, and Success and serves as the ADA/Section 504 Coordinator. She has spent over eighteen years working with faculty and staff to facilitate an inclusive campus environment for disabled students. In her current role, Katy uses an innovative approach to proactively remove physical and digital barriers to equal access by collaborating with workgroups and partners across the university; administering the employment-related accommodation process; and ensuring university compliance with relevant state and federal laws which directly impact equal access and inclusion of disabled employees, students, and visitors. Katy received a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas. She also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Arkansas. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).
Paul Peterson, M.B.A.
Assistant Dean for Administration, Finance and Administration, VCU School of Medicine
Paul Peterson began his career at VCU in 2008 in the Provost’s Office. He then served as the University Budget Officer in the VCU Budget Office from 2010 - 2013. Mr. Peterson became the Assistant Dean for Administration and Operations at the VCU School of Medicine in 2013. Mr. Peterson has a B.S. in Biology/Pre-med and a Master's in Business Administration.