Alumni and Corporate Engagement

Assistant Director of Corporate Engagement, D.C. Area//Tyler Lewis leads strategic outreach and engagement efforts to build relationships with industry partners, alumni, and executive champions across the greater D.C. area. He curates events and regional programs that elevate the university’s presence and showcase its cutting-edge academic and research strengths.<br/>Tyler believes in the power and energy of being in the room — where ideas, people, and purpose intersect. He has over seven years of experience in event management, external affairs, and stakeholder engagement. Originally from the Tampa Bay area, Tyler now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, daughter, and dog Murphy. He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of South Florida and is a proud Eagle Scout.//tylerlewis@vt.edu

Project Coordinator; Business Analyst//​​​​As a project coordinator and business analyst for the Alumni and Corporate Engagement team, Astha Dhakal leverages a strong background in process improvement, data-driven decision-making, and project management. She is passionate about using technology and data to create meaningful connections between people and organizations, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement through innovative solutions that enhance engagement and impact.<br/>Astha holds a master’s degree in computer science from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She lives in Blacksburg with her fiancé and their dog, Zuzu. Outside work, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her dog, and staying connected with her family in Nepal.//asthad@vt.edu

Project Coordinator, Corporate Events and Experiences // Tanya Ablaeva supports the Alumni and Corporate Engagement team by helping plan industry events, corporate visits, and partner programs across campus. She enjoys creating experiences that bring people together in meaningful ways and approaches each project with an impact-focused mindset. <br/>Before joining Virginia Tech, Tanya worked at Deloitte Consulting, gaining experience in agile project management, customer success, and operations. She earned her Bachelor of Science in marketing and supply chain management from Syracuse University, along with a minor in information technology. //tablaeva@vt.edu

Director of Alumni and Corporate Engagement//Katie serves as director of the Alumni and Corporate Engagement team. With more than 22 years of experience at Virginia Tech, she specializes in engagement, volunteer management, strategic thinking, and relationship building. <br/>Throughout her career, Katie has been dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and creating impactful engagement opportunities for alumni, volunteers, and partners. She is passionate about Virginia Tech and the university motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).<br/>A two-time Hokie alumna, she earned her bachelor's degree in forestry and recreation and her master's degree in career and technical education from Virginia Tech. //kapatter@vt.edu

Project Coordinator, Corporate Events and Experiences//Brianna Ay helps design memorable events for alumni, industry partners, and university leaders. She is always looking to learn something new and enjoys collaborating with other creative minds. She loves the entire process of planning and executing unique experiences that create long-lasting impact.<br/>Brianna earned her bachelor's degree in event planning from Liberty University in 2024. //briannaay@vt.edu

Project Coordinator, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships//Eyerusalem Debebe is a project coordinator for strategic initiatives and partnerships at Virginia Tech, where she supports projects and partnerships that unite people and organizations around shared goals.<br/>With a background in project management, global business, and operations, she enjoys building relationships, solving problems, and turning ideas into meaningful initiatives. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new places, learning about different cultures, and reading.<br/>She holds a Master of Science in global business from Pepperdine University and a B.B.A. in international business and marketing from St. Mary’s University.//eyerusalemd@vt.edu