Meet the Staff
Left to right: Ben Eppard, Yousaf Sajid, Elizabeth Bass, Jennifer Walker, Anna Rossberg, Julie Jarrett, Melissa Leecy
Elizabeth Bass, Executive Director
Elizabeth Bass joined the Madison House staff in August 2003. Elizabeth graduated from the University of Virginia in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2003 with a Masters in Social Work. While a student at the University of Virginia, Elizabeth volunteered with Madison House as a volunteer and then Head Program Director for the Day Care Program and also served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors. Outside of Madison House, she was a University Guide Service Vice-Chair, a Resident Assistant, a Leadership 2000 participant and a Class of 1999 Trustee. Elizabeth worked for two years after college in Charlottesville as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Shelter for Help in Emergency. As a MSW student at VCU, she interned with Communities in Schools and the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority. During the summer of 2002, Elizabeth worked as a Fellow in the Department of Planning and Budget, Health and Human Services as a part of the Governor's Fellows Program. Elizabeth served on the U.Va. Young Alumni Council for six years, and chaired her 10 year reunion planning committee. She has been a member of the Youth Service Work Group for the Commission on Children and Families for five years.
When Elizabeth returned to Madison House in 2003, she was the Director of Programs and Associate Director, and served in this role for six years, working closely with the students leaders and the community partners. In August of 2009, she was appointed Interim Director of Madison House by the Board of Directors, and became the Executive Director in the spring of 2010. Currently, Elizabeth is a board member for Children, Youth and Family Services here in Charlottesville, and a member of the Future Fund, an initiative of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. Each summer, she volunteers as a counselor with Special Love, a camp for children with cancer and their siblings. She and her dog Sadie live in the city, and she loves coming to work every day to support the mission of Madison House.
Email: elizabeth@madisonhouse.org
Julie Jarrett, Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Julie joined the Madison House staff in April 2012 as the Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations. She grew up in Dallas, TX and graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Non-Profit Management in 2010. She is a huge Sooner football fan! Through the journalism college she worked in many student groups doing public relations work for local non-profits. Julie was a member of OU's national public relations honorable mention team. Senior year of college she joined Americorps as a Volunteer Coordinator for an inner city Oklahoma City employment and education organization.
Julie moved to Virginia in August 2010 to do the Trinity Fellows Program, a post-graduate leadership development program focused on building leadership, integrity, and excellence in the workplace. Although she had grand plans to move back to Texas after the fellows program she fell in love with Charlottesville and has been here ever since!
As the Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations Julie will be taking leadership in Annual Giving, Student Philanthropy and Stewardship. In her free time Julie enjoys reading, exploring Charlottesville and beyond, leading a group of middle school girls through her church and frequenting local coffee shops!
Email: julie@madisonhouse.org
Jennifer Walker, Director of Programs
Jennifer Walker has been working at Madison House since 2010 and became the Director of Programs in the Spring of 2011. Originally from Dallas, TX, Jennifer went to Princeton University for college and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Psychology. While in college, she spent her summers counseling at an inner city sports camp called Kids Across America. Jennifer came to Virginia in August 2008 to do the Trinity Fellows Program, a post-graduate leadership development program focused on building leadership, integrity, and excellence in the workplace. Through the Fellows Program, Jennifer was employed as an Americorps VISTA to work at UVa's Community Relations Office with their Day in the Life Mentoring and Tutoring Program and worked there until the summer of 2010.
As the Director of Programs, Jennifer works with the Assistant Director of Programs to advise the Head Program Directors at Madison House. She will also be in communication with Madison House's community partners and she will work with other program directors to help them with their specific volunteer sites. In her free time, Jennifer leads a small group of high school girls through her church, she enjoys playing basketball and exercising, and she is on the board of the Trinity Fellows Program. Jennifer also loves spending time with her husband Clark Walker (COMM '05).
Email: jennifer@madisonhouse.org
Yousaf Sajid, Assistant Director of Programs
Yousaf Sajid joined the Madison House staff in summer of 2011. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2010 with a degree in Cognitive Science. While at the University, Yousaf spent his time as a Madison House volunteer, Program Director and Head Program Director for the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. In addition to his involvement with Madison House, Yousaf was a Resident Advisor for first year dorms, a tour guide with the University Guide Service, and a member of the Class of 2010 Trustees. Upon graduation, Yousaf worked in healthcare consulting and marketing and was a leader in the UVa Club of Washington.
Yousaf is very excited to return to Madison House and contribute to both the University and Charlottesville community. Along with the Director of Programs, Yousaf advises the Head Program Directors at Madison House in areas of volunteer management and leadership. In addition to advising students, Yousaf works with the community partners of Madison House to ensure positive volunteering experiences across Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Yousaf lives downtown where he enjoys the local arts and music scene and is eager to learn more about the Charlottesville community.
Email: yousaf@madisonhouse.org
Ben Eppard, Director of Communications
Ben Eppard joined the Madison House staff as Director of Communications in August 2007. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Liberty University, where he specialized in public relations and graphic design. As a student, Ben served as the editor-in-chief of the university's award winning campus newspaper and volunteered at the local hospital. He previously worked as the Creative Service Manager for Liberty University. In his spare time, Ben enjoys music, travel, farming and working on the occasional freelance design project. Originally from the Charlottesville area, Ben enjoys assisting students in giving back to the community.
Email: ben@madisonhouse.org
Anna Rossberg, Office Manager
Anna graduated from UVA in the early 80’s and was a Madison House volunteer in the Migrant Aid Program. She lives in Crozet and has four children. Her previous work experience includes being a pastry chef, Construction Office Management and Catering Management for a local restaurant. Some of Anna’s favorite volunteer experiences over the years have included being a Girl Scout Leader and participating in week-long home refurbishing projects through Impact Richmond. Anna is happy to be back at the University and proud to be a team member in furthering the mission of Madison House.
Email: anna@madisonhouse.org