Jimmie Gahagan is the Director of OSLEL at Virginia Commonwealth University.  He is passionate about supporting students’ integrative learning and leadership development.   He teaches leadership classes and encourages students’ engagement in high-impact practices such as study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, peer leadership, and service-learning. 

He is originally from Va. Beach, Virginia (shout out to the 757) and received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Richmond.  His master’s and Ph.D. are both from the University of South Carolina where he worked prior to coming to VCU. Jimmie enjoys engaging with students and is always open to playing basketball, golf, and board games.

Rebecca (Becca) Halligan is the Associate Director of OSLEL and is dedicated to developing student leaders throughout their journey within their program and at VCU.  She works primarily with the VCU Transform and Emerging Leaders programs and oversees the process of engaging students in reflective activities outside of the classroom.  She is passionate about creating space and time for students to feel challenged, accepted, and cared for in all the programs.  Becca is originally from Vermont and received her undergraduate degree from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, PA.  Her masters in Higher Education--Student Affairs Administration is from University of Massachusetts-Amherst.  She is an ISFJ and her strengths are empathy, positivity, developer, consistency, and harmony.

Kaylynn is the Assistant Director for Engaged Learning in VCU Transform.  She works primarily with the VCU Transform program and exploring opportunities for community partnerships and co-curricular engagements within the program.  Prior to landing at VCU, Kaylynn has worked at Clemson University and Promote Care & Prevent Harm, a non-profit focused on creating a safer world. Kaylynn holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Cleveland State (Ohio) and Masters in Higher Education from Virginia Tech. 

A native of the Richmond suburbs, Dr. Michael Rackett earned a B.A. from the College of William and Mary, an M.A. in Writing and Rhetoric from VCU, and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Duke University. At various institutions, he has taught courses on topics ranging from biblical studies and the history of Christianity to research writing and argumentation to community engagement. For VCU Transform his teaching focuses on leadership development, community engagement, cultural agility, and career readiness. Dr. Rackett has also co-led numerous domestic and global service experiences in Sneedville, TN and in Belize, Central America.

A native of Henrico County, Virginia, Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from George Mason University and a Masters in Adult Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education, both from Virginia Commonwealth University.  Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews is the author of Forever Friends 2, released in 2022, Forever Friends, released in 2020, Images of America: The Richmond 34 and the Civil Rights Movement, released in 2020 and Images of Modern America: The Richmond Crusade for Voters, released in 2017. Her projects focus on empowerment, diversity and leadership, with the goal to engage and educate a new generation and to encourage a continued quest for empowerment and equality for all.

Alinah-Noelle Alegre is the Coordinator for VCU Transform overseeing the day-to-day functions, development of programming, and the recruitment and selection process for the living-learning program. Alinah-Noelle is a VCU alum with a Bachelors in International Studies. During undergrad, she worked various positions across campus, held leadership positions in organizations like Ram Camp and FACTatVCU, and graduated from VCU Globe, a former living-learning program.

Jonathan Fuller currently serves as the Assistant Director for Student Leadership in the Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning (OSLEL). He oversees the Peer Leadership Initiative, which seeks to celebrate and equip Peer Leaders and their supervisors in positions across the Division of Student Affairs and beyond. He also oversees the Emerging Leaders Program and collaborates with the rest of the OSLEL team.

Prior to beginning at VCU, Jonathan worked in Residence Life at Randolph-Macon College and also has experience in hospital chaplaincy, student leadership development, and community engagement. His background and education at both Messiah University (B.A.) and Wesley Theological Seminary (M.Div.) provided training in spiritual formation and leadership development with young adults. He is passionate about justice and equity in higher education, is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Education at VCU, and lives in Richmond with his spouse, Abby, and rescued pit bull, Winnie.