Keri Rouse accepting plaque from Jonathan van Senten on Hampton waterfront.
Keri Rouse (left) and Jonathan van Senten outside the Virginia Seafood AREC on the downtown Hampton waterfront.

Keri Rouse, communications associate at the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, was named the Employee of the Month for the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Keri’s nominator praised her dedication.

Keri's contributions to the programs at VSAREC have benefited the faculty and staff at the center, allowing them to reach new audiences and strengthen ties with existing stakeholders. Keri's leadership in outreach activities and events has brought new attention to the programs at the AREC, the College, and Virginia Tech. Thanks to Keri, the VSAREC has explored new methods (video, virtual tours, social media, etc.) for communicating and growing our audience, directly improving participation in research and disseminating information to stakeholders as a result. Keri has also engaged beyond the VSAREC, assisting with initiatives at the College (Ag Fest, CEA Summit) and Center level (Coastal@VT, CAIA), including contributing to the development of the Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator and engaging in strategic program planning, such as with the development of the Eat More Fish consumer education program.

Thanks to Keri's efforts, the Virginia Seafood AREC has enjoyed a greater level of media coverage and engagement with external entities, allowing us to build new partnerships in pursuit of our Extension and outreach mission. Keri's willingness to help her colleagues advance their research and Extension programs has been truly admirable, working across a variety of disciplines and stakeholder audiences to strategically deliver high-quality and engaging outputs. She has been a fountain of new ideas to help drive engagement with our center staff and faculty, while also serving as the boots on the ground to implement those ideas.

As the CALS Employee of the Month for August 2023, Keri will receive a plaque, gifts from the college, have her photo displayed in the case in Hutcheson Hall, and will be eligible to be considered for the 2024-25 Employee of the Year award.