2024 Featured Monarchs
Alaina Wallace, a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences at Old Dominion University, exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. Originally from Alexandria, VA, Alaina transferred to ODU from Norfolk State during her sophomore year. Recognizing the need for greater representation and support for Black students in STEM fields, she took the initiative to establish the Black STEM Coalition on campus.
As President of the Black STEM Coalition, Alaina has fostered a thriving community for Black students pursuing STEM disciplines. Through the implementation of networking events, mentorship programs, and academic support initiatives, she has created an environment conducive to both academic and professional growth. The organization has gained recognition, emerging as a cornerstone of support and empowerment for Black students in STEM.
Beyond her leadership role in the Black STEM Coalition, Alaina actively participates in various campus organizations and community initiatives. Serving as Vice President of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS), she contributes to organizing events, and blood drives, and attending conferences to advance her medical aspirations. Additionally, Alaina takes pride in her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, where she actively engages in community service projects, embodying the values of sisterhood and leadership.
Alaina's commitment extends beyond academic and professional success to making a positive impact in her community. Collaborating with the Urban Renewal Center, she organizes volunteer opportunities for students, reflecting her belief in the importance of giving back and effecting meaningful change in the lives of others.
Motivated by personal experiences and a desire to address healthcare disparities, Alaina aspires to pursue a medical career specializing in obstetrics and neonatology. Her passionate advocacy for underrepresented communities and dedication to addressing systemic issues within healthcare highlights her commitment to excellence and service.
Reflecting on the concept of Black excellence, Alaina emphasizes the significance of representation, achievement, and community upliftment. She views Black excellence as a catalyst for inspiring future generations and combating societal narratives that perpetuate disparities and inequalities. Through her endeavors, Alaina embodies the spirit of Black excellence, not only in her academic and leadership roles but also in her dedication to empowering others and effecting positive change in the community. Her multifaceted contributions, both on and off-campus, serve as a testament to her commitment to academic success, leadership, and service, making her a true asset to the university and a role model for her peers.
Brianna (Bri) Elum, Director of the Women’s & Gender Equity Center (WGEC) at Old Dominion University is known for her commitment to the principles of equity and diversity. This is evidenced through her conscious and deliberate contributions toward enhancing educational, employment, and community experiences within our campus and beyond.
Bri prioritizes the mission of the WGEC and individuals over comfort or convenience. The WGEC programs and services educate, activate, and promote gender equity, empowerment, and leadership. Acknowledging the crucial role of diverse identities, the Center aims to create a safe and inclusive environment. Through programs and outreach, this work encourages students to be agents of change, advocates, and allies, fostering personal, academic, and professional growth for all. Bri provides strategic direction and support for numerous initiatives, including those related to a sexual assault and abuse free environment, LGBTQIA+ , womanhood, and social justice.
Through her work and leadership within the WGEC, Bri offers opportunities for campus and community members to engage in advocacy and education. Safe Space training is a prime example. The purpose of becoming a Safe Space Ally is to be a part of the movement on campus to create a more inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff. Safe Space Allies ensure the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ communities and support the advancement of a campus community that values diversity specifically around gender/sexual identity. Through volunteering and collaborations, Safe Space Allies bring together Monarchs to freely explore issues of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and the intersections with each other and other identities, while advocating for awareness and social justice. Historically, Safe Space Ally Certification only required attending Safe Space Ally Training. With the previous model, there was no long-term commitment or engagement expected which made it difficult to measure the impact of the training program itself. Under Bri’s leadership, in addition to attending a Safe Space Ally Training, participants are now required to attend educational programs and volunteer at select social programs throughout the year to support LGBTQIA+ initiatives on campus. This is an example of Bri establishing elevated benchmarks for inclusive practices while aiding others in reaching them. In other words, Bri has demonstrated and actively assisted in moving the University toward becoming a more consciously and deliberately inclusive community.
Bri has effectively leveraged opportunities at Old Dominion University to enhance the educational, employment, and community experience in various ways. One notable aspect of Bri's impact on educational experiences is her deliberate creation of opportunities for students, both graduate and undergraduate. Bri has two graduate assistants on her team and is actively working to create a third position. She also leverages internships to involve undergraduate students within the WGEC. Bri believes in the power of experiential learning and feels strongly about creating space for students to use their voices. While a champion for inclusivity across campus, Bri’s inclusivity starts within her very own team. Bri emphasizes individual strengths, areas of focus, and passions of professional staff members, thereby contributing to a more enriched employment experience at ODU. Bri has been instrumental in creating space for innovative programming which enhances our community experience. She actively collaborates with new partners both internal and external to our campus community, fostering a diverse and dynamic environment. For example, Bri spearheads campus conversations and invites prominent experts to share their insights on various topics. Bri ensures that the WGEC team works together to create experiences that are representative of the multiplicity of intersecting identities that our community members hold.
Alaina Wallace, a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences at Old Dominion University, exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. Originally from Alexandria, VA, Alaina transferred to ODU from Norfolk State during her sophomore year. Recognizing the need for greater representation and support for Black students in STEM fields, she took the initiative to establish the Black STEM Coalition on campus.
As President of the Black STEM Coalition, Alaina has fostered a thriving community for Black students pursuing STEM disciplines. Through the implementation of networking events, mentorship programs, and academic support initiatives, she has created an environment conducive to both academic and professional growth. The organization has gained recognition, emerging as a cornerstone of support and empowerment for Black students in STEM.
Beyond her leadership role in the Black STEM Coalition, Alaina actively participates in various campus organizations and community initiatives. Serving as Vice President of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS), she contributes to organizing events, and blood drives, and attending conferences to advance her medical aspirations. Additionally, Alaina takes pride in her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, where she actively engages in community service projects, embodying the values of sisterhood and leadership.
Alaina's commitment extends beyond academic and professional success to making a positive impact in her community. Collaborating with the Urban Renewal Center, she organizes volunteer opportunities for students, reflecting her belief in the importance of giving back and effecting meaningful change in the lives of others.
Motivated by personal experiences and a desire to address healthcare disparities, Alaina aspires to pursue a medical career specializing in obstetrics and neonatology. Her passionate advocacy for underrepresented communities and dedication to addressing systemic issues within healthcare highlights her commitment to excellence and service.
Reflecting on the concept of Black excellence, Alaina emphasizes the significance of representation, achievement, and community upliftment. She views Black excellence as a catalyst for inspiring future generations and combating societal narratives that perpetuate disparities and inequalities. Through her endeavors, Alaina embodies the spirit of Black excellence, not only in her academic and leadership roles but also in her dedication to empowering others and effecting positive change in the community. Her multifaceted contributions, both on and off-campus, serve as a testament to her commitment to academic success, leadership, and service, making her a true asset to the university and a role model for her peers.
Brianna (Bri) Elum, Director of the Women’s & Gender Equity Center (WGEC) at Old Dominion University is known for her commitment to the principles of equity and diversity. This is evidenced through her conscious and deliberate contributions toward enhancing educational, employment, and community experiences within our campus and beyond.
Bri prioritizes the mission of the WGEC and individuals over comfort or convenience. The WGEC programs and services educate, activate, and promote gender equity, empowerment, and leadership. Acknowledging the crucial role of diverse identities, the Center aims to create a safe and inclusive environment. Through programs and outreach, this work encourages students to be agents of change, advocates, and allies, fostering personal, academic, and professional growth for all. Bri provides strategic direction and support for numerous initiatives, including those related to a sexual assault and abuse free environment, LGBTQIA+ , womanhood, and social justice.
Through her work and leadership within the WGEC, Bri offers opportunities for campus and community members to engage in advocacy and education. Safe Space training is a prime example. The purpose of becoming a Safe Space Ally is to be a part of the movement on campus to create a more inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff. Safe Space Allies ensure the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ communities and support the advancement of a campus community that values diversity specifically around gender/sexual identity. Through volunteering and collaborations, Safe Space Allies bring together Monarchs to freely explore issues of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and the intersections with each other and other identities, while advocating for awareness and social justice. Historically, Safe Space Ally Certification only required attending Safe Space Ally Training. With the previous model, there was no long-term commitment or engagement expected which made it difficult to measure the impact of the training program itself. Under Bri’s leadership, in addition to attending a Safe Space Ally Training, participants are now required to attend educational programs and volunteer at select social programs throughout the year to support LGBTQIA+ initiatives on campus. This is an example of Bri establishing elevated benchmarks for inclusive practices while aiding others in reaching them. In other words, Bri has demonstrated and actively assisted in moving the University toward becoming a more consciously and deliberately inclusive community.
Bri has effectively leveraged opportunities at Old Dominion University to enhance the educational, employment, and community experience in various ways. One notable aspect of Bri's impact on educational experiences is her deliberate creation of opportunities for students, both graduate and undergraduate. Bri has two graduate assistants on her team and is actively working to create a third position. She also leverages internships to involve undergraduate students within the WGEC. Bri believes in the power of experiential learning and feels strongly about creating space for students to use their voices. While a champion for inclusivity across campus, Bri’s inclusivity starts within her very own team. Bri emphasizes individual strengths, areas of focus, and passions of professional staff members, thereby contributing to a more enriched employment experience at ODU. Bri has been instrumental in creating space for innovative programming which enhances our community experience. She actively collaborates with new partners both internal and external to our campus community, fostering a diverse and dynamic environment. For example, Bri spearheads campus conversations and invites prominent experts to share their insights on various topics. Bri ensures that the WGEC team works together to create experiences that are representative of the multiplicity of intersecting identities that our community members hold.