About Virginia Corps
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Suzanne Simmons
Program Manager, Virginia's Citizen Corps
Suzanne Simmons is Virginia's Citizen Corps Point of Contact and the Volunteer Coordination Program Manager for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. She is also the Program Manager for Virginia's Citizen Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs.
Her role is to enhance the ability of the government and citizens of Virginia to prepare for, cope with and recover from emergencies and disasters of all kinds. During disaster operations, Suzanne is the state's Emergency Response Team's Volunteer and Donation Lead for response and recovery operations. She is responsible for coordinating disaster and emergency-based volunteer and donation preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts, ensuring an effective and efficient delivery of volunteer and donated resources to affected localities. Previously, at VDEM, Suzanne worked in the Public Affairs Division as a Public Information Officer.
Prior to her roles in VDEM, she was employed by Recorder Publishing in Highland County as a news editor for its weekly publication serving Bath and Highland counties, where she was recognized by the Virginia Press Association for her contributions. Suzanne also served as a Postmaster with the US Postal Service.
Suzanne has a volunteer background with 4-H in both New Jersey and Virginia, and as an AmeriCorps VISTA, coordinating Foster Grandparent programs in Pocahontas and Pendleton counties, West Virginia. She has volunteered as a Special Education Advisory Committee member and as an art educator, journalism mentor and Destination Imagination/Odyssey of the Mind coach for Highland County youth and adults. She is an accomplished fine artist, with her silk designs exhibited in galleries across the U.S.
Suzanne majored in art education and communication at Mary Baldwin College and Moore College of Art. She is currently enrolled in the Emergency Management Degree Program at the University of Richmond.