Jonathan serves as the Director for First and Second Year Experiences. Prior to beginning this position in 2024, Jonathan served in student leadership development at VCU and continues to bring a passion for building inclusive communities, innovative leaders, and transformative learning experiences to his role as Director. He is a current Ph.D. student in VCU’s School of Education, where his research focuses on equitable and transformative supervision of student leaders and employees. He holds a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and History from Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Jonathan also brings to his role a commitment to equity, justice, and inclusion that stems from his role as an ordained United Methodist minister. He seeks to cultivate spaces of welcome for all students and ensure every student has the support they need to accomplish their goals. He lives in Henrico with his spouse, Abby, and rescued pitbull, Winnie, and loves improv comedy, music, video games, and podcasts.

Lillie serves as the Career Bridge Program Coordinator for the Office of First and Second Year Experiences. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Virginia Tech in May of 2023 and her Master of Education in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia in May of 2025. Lillie has served in various roles supporting student leadership development, hazing prevention, basic needs support, and study abroad risk assessment. Before joining Virginia Commonwealth University full-time, she served as a NODA Graduate Intern for the VCU Office of Orientation and Transition Programs. Lillie has a passion for college student development and making higher education more accessible for all students. She aims to facilitate programs that allow students to explore their strengths and become the best version of themselves. She lives in The Fan District and enjoys yoga, reading, and reality television.

Kayani serves as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Student Success. A VCU alumna, she received her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from the Robertson School in December of 2023. With degree concentrations in Creative and Strategic Advertising, she has a passion for forecasting trends and learning about unique ways to communicate with varying audiences. In her undergraduate years, she held various peer leadership roles across campus, including an internship in the Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning, where she discovered her drive for helping students reach their full potential. She developed that further through her time serving as a Substitute Teacher and Instructional Assistant for Fairfax County Public Schools, working predominantly with the special education population. Kayani is dedicated to advocacy and inclusivity both in her professional and personal life, and she is proud to be a Latinx first generation college graduate. She lives in Jackson Ward and enjoys going to the James River, discovering good food spots, and loading up her Libby library.

Dr. Tolan has been at VCU since 2015, and her career has always focused on serving public/access institutions. States she has worked in include Missouri, Vermont, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and now Virginia. Topics you could easily sit and talk with Dr. Tolan about over coffee would include travel and study abroad, foreign languages, telling her about your “spark” (personal passions/goals), using data to identify and fix problems, or anything about your family - because family is what is most important. She is the proud mom of two sons - one who is currently a VCU School of the Arts Ram!