Faculty/Staff
Joanna (Jo) Culligan | Interim Director & Therapeutic Program Manager
Email: joculligan@vt.edu | Faculty Page
Jo Culligan is a parent, partner, music therapist, instructor and researcher at Virginia Tech. As a collaborative and creative creature, she strives build connections between people. She specializes in working with persons who are experiencing dementia and their care-partners using evidence-based musical approaches through neurologic research discovery to improve their communication and engagement. As an instructor, Jo is passionate about breaking down stigmas associated with aging and hopes to create the next generation of gerontology enthusiasts.
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Jenna Booth | Program Assistant
Jenna’s favorite part of her job is seeing participants smile and laugh. Her focus is on person centered care and is passionate about creating purposeful programming that fosters meaningful interactions and connections. Her favorite area inside ECCA is the patio and garden space, she loves all things flowers and plants!
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Debbie Kleiner | Health Care Coordinator
Debbie started working at Virginia Tech Adult Day Services in 2004 and has stayed because it is a wonderful place to work. She enjoys the friendly community atmosphere ECCA has and the opportunity to work with students. In Debbie’s free time, she enjoys walking, hiking, kayaking, community theatre, outdoor music concerts and spending time with family and friends.
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Heather Ratcliffe
Heather is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with a deep passion for helping others. She loves what she does and it brings her true happiness knowing she is making a positive impact on peoples lives. With experience in compassionate, hands-on care, Heather strives to support participants and their families with empathy, respect and dedication.
Family is at the heart of everything she does as a mother of five (four girls and one boy). Much of Heather’s free time is spent at the softball field cheering on her daughters as they play. Spending time with family is one of her greatest joys. Heather is also and animal love with her home full of furry friends, including two playful boxers, a cat and a rabbit!
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Shannon Holbrook
Shannon has worked in healthcare for over twenty years. Her calling is to offer compassion, growth, optimism and bring joy into the lives of others. She is so thankful every single day to come to ECCA where her and her co-workers grow, learn and thrive together.
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Violet Zaleski | CNA & Co-Lead Investigator for IMAGINE Lab
Violet has worked as a CNA for over four and a half years. She began as a student and, after her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, continued working with ECCA during her gap year before medical school. Violet also serves as a co-lead investigator for The Beat Goes On under the IMAGINE Lab at Virginia Tech. Her passions include supporting older adults with cognitive impairments and fostering intergenerational connections between college students and older adults.
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Brenda Stanfill
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Jenna Barker
Interns
Aadi Yalamanchilli | CNA Intern
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Carly Thompson | Programming Intern
Carly is a senior at Virginia Tech, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Adaptive Brain and Behavior. She is originally from Oakton, Virginia, and hopes to attend graduate school following graduation in May 2026. Outside of working at ECCA, Carly enjoys volunteering at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, exercising and reading!
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Emily Dorsey | Marketing and Communications Intern