The Staff

Elizabeth Bass has worked in higher education and the nonprofit sector for more than 20 years, with an emphasis on volunteer training and management, community outreach and collegiate civic engagement. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 1999 with a bachelor’s in sociology and from VCU in 2003 with a master’s in social work.

In her role as assistant vice president for alumni relations, she leads a team of alumni relations professionals and collaborates with colleagues in VCU’s schools and departments to engage VCU alumni from both campuses to stay connected to the university. From reunions to mentoring students, from lifelong learning programs to career networking, through regional or affinity groups and volunteer service, the Office of Alumni Relations seeks to find meaningful ways for all alumni to engage with and give back to VCU.

Prior to joining VCU, Bass served as executive director of the Virginia Mentoring Partnership, a statewide organization that promotes effective youth mentoring across the commonwealth, and as executive director of Madison House, the volunteer center at the University of Virginia, working with students, alumni and community partners.

She lives in Midlothian, Virginia, with her husband, Will Cleland, and their son, Henry.

A proud alumna and member of the VCU team since 2012, Amy has a B.A. from Virginia Tech, an M.Ed. from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from VCU.

Her primary focus is on alumni engagement strategy. She has experience in student affairs, strategic enrollment management, student advancement programs and alumni relations. She and her husband, Jeff (M.S.W.’11/SW), also a VCU alumnus, live in Hanover, Virginia, with their son, Sonny.

Larry Powell joined VCU Alumni in 1996. He manages VCU Alumni's shared interest groups and select regional chapters, coordinates athletics-related alumni engagement, coordinates the African-American Alumni Council’s scholarship and mentoring programs and serves as VCU Alumni’s primary point of contact for diversity-related activities. He holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications/public relations from VCU.

Sarah Ramkey joined VCU Alumni in July 2018 as an assistant director for regional alumni engagement. She has a background in student affairs and development and in July 2021 added student programs to her role. In her current position, she co-advises the student alumni organization, Students Today Alumni Tomorrow, works on the student-to-alumni transition and manages regional chapters. She has a B.A. from Christopher Newport University and an M.Ed. from Old Dominion University.

Latisha Taylor Smart is the director of alumni career and personal development. A graduate of both Old Dominion University and George Mason University, she previously worked in VCU’s central career services unit. As a member of the VCU Alumni team, she provides alumni with meaningful opportunities to network, in-person and virtually, as she builds out a programming model that focuses on the industries in which our alumni work and not simply the academic areas in which they received a degree. She collaborates across the university in her efforts to engage alumni and strengthen their professional network.

Allison Toney joined the VCU Alumni team in November 2016 and currently serves as the director of student and alumni engagement. She supports the programs and initiatives that engage students and soon-to-be alumni, the student alumni organization (Students Today Alumni Tomorrow), recent graduates and regional alumni. Prior to joining the alumni team, she worked within higher education and student affairs. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Clemson University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy and Justice from VCU. 

Ashley Burton joined VCU Alumni as the director of alumni reunion and recognition programs in August 2018. She is responsible for the strategy, growth and success of reunions on the MCV and Monroe Park campuses. She also ensures that alumni are appropriately recognized for their contributions, both personally and professionally, through meaningful award ceremonies and events.

Most recently, Burton spent six years at the VCU School of the Arts in Qatar, where she managed events, festivals, ceremonies, conferences and diplomatic and VIP protocol. Before Qatar, she worked at VCU Massey Cancer Center, where she led sponsorship, fundraising and marketing for the center’s largest fundraising event, The Massey Challenge.

She maintains a professional certification as Certified Special Event Professional through the International Live Events Association and is a licensed trainer by The Protocol School of Washington to teach intercultural etiquette and protocol.

Burton is a graduate of Longwood University and earned a certificate in event management from The George Washington University.

Lauren Leavy joined VCU Alumni in February 2017. In her current role, she coordinates signature events for VCU Alumni, including the MCV Campus Reunion, 10 Under 10 awards and the alumni-owned business recognition program.

Before coming to Richmond, Virginia, Leavy worked in the event planning field for five years in Rochester, New York. She received her B.A. in Communications Studies and Digital Media Arts from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and received her Nonprofit Management Certificate from VCU in 2019.

Parks Smith is the director of alumni volunteer programs and professional development. He formerly worked for the alumni relations office at his alma mater, Longwood University. He focuses his energies at VCU on enhancing the alumni volunteer experience and directs the alumni volunteer engagement strategy with a focus on how to recruit, train, retain and steward alumni into meaningful volunteer roles.