Lisa Ellison: Architect of Acceptance

Acceptance and equality are cornerstones of today’s Hokie Nation. Lisa Ellison, a member of the 1986 graduating class, was a prominent leader of social change here at Virginia Tech. Serving as the President of the Black Organizations Council and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership roundtable, Lisa became more than just a student–she was a student with a voice powerful enough to represent a minority group.

At this time, Squires Student Center was being renovated and the Black Organizations Council began pushing for the inclusion of a Black Cultural Center. Lisa, and her fellow members of the Black Organizations Council, put the Black Cultural Center on the blueprints and, subsequently, in the front mezzanine of the Squires Student Center.

As a Hokie, Lisa’s voice established a living, functioning monument of diversity. For Lisa, the Virginia Tech community gave her a sense of solidarity and empowered her to become an advocate for the African American community.

“That’s my place, those are my people.”
Lisa Ellison

Lisa understands that the Hokie Nation is not monochromatic. Hokies do not allow differences to weaken us; rather, our diversity inspires Hokies to become leaders, dreamers, and campaigners for social change.

Beyond ethnicity, nationality, or gender, every Hokie knows what makes Blacksburg, Virginia home–even if it is just walking across the drillfield in the rain.