
Dr. Avina I. Ross (she/her/hers)
Vice President of Strategy and Education
Dr. Avina I. Ross is an unapologetic Black, feminist womxn, sister, and mother. She grew up in Virginia in a military household that valued her analytical and socially conscious qualities. For 17 years, Dr. Ross worked in the gender violence field within nonprofits, local, state, and federal government, as well as in higher education. Former employers include the U.S. Department of Justice, Princeton University, and Virginia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. She developed expertise in culturally relevant and trauma-informed advocacy services, violence prevention, domestic violence fatality review, qualitative research, grants management, and program evaluation. In 2016, she received her PhD in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University after successfully defending her dissertation on the depictions of Black women as victims of gender violence in Tyler Perry films. Dr. Ross also earned her Master’s degree in Sociology from VCU and her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Women’s Studies from the College of William and Mary. Some of her most recent co-authored publications include:
- No weapon formed against us shall prosper: Politics of self-care for womx/en of color (under review).
- You can start a movement with a hashtag: An exploration of student-led social media activism.
- Intersectionality, intimate partner violence, and people with disabilities.
In 2022, Dr. Ross published a piece on her experience as a Black womxn working in student affairs. She continues to lean into risky sharing and vulnerability about her experiences to foster healing and solidarity and encourage organizational accountability and systemic change. When time and interest allow, she works as a consultant with organizations seeking to improve their policies and practices to support marginalized communities. For joy and self-care, she delights in Starbucks cold brew, exploring new things with her son, Langston Rise, and watching reality cooking competition shows– not necessarily in that order.