Background
The ETU Virginia initiative grew out of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center’s attendance at the 2018 Texas Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit. VCU approached the University of Virginia Cancer Center to join in their efforts to replicate a summit in Virginia. Since hosting their first ETU Virginia Summit in 2019, they have continued to host an annual summit, clarified Executive Order 41, and developed a robust tobacco policy surveillance system.
Explore the Virginia Higher Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard, developed through the partnership of the Virginia Department of Health, ETU Virginia and CADCA. Click here to learn more about their collaboration.
Virginia Steering Committee
2025-2026 MEMBERS
Roger Anderson, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Population Science
University of Virginia
John Boggess
Communication and Health Promotions Coordinator
Virginia Private Colleges Benefits Consortium
Cynthia Burwell, Ed.D, M.C.H.E.S., R.K.T.
Director, NSU Center of Excellence in Minority Health Disparities
Norfolk State University
Neely Dahl, M.P.H, C.T.T.S.
Chair
Tobacco Free Alliance of Virginia
Elizabeth Do, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Research Manager
Truth Initiative
Jon Fritsch, M.S., CT.T.S.
Assistant Director of Hokie Wellness
Virginia Tech
Bernard Fuemmeler, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Gordon D. Ginder, MD Chair in Cancer Research
Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer
Michael Gesme, M.P.A.
Program Manager, Community Outreach and Engagement
Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer
Lindsay Hauser, M.S., M.T.T.S.
Director, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement
University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center
Gina Roberts
Tobacco Control Lead Regional Coordinator
Virginia Department of Health Tobacco Control Program
Andrew Romero, M.Ed.
Director
Geographic Health Equity Alliance
Kellen Schalter, M.P.H.
Manager, Public Health Programs
Geographic Health Equity Alliance