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Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

Meet the Staff

Andrea George, PhD, BCEEM, CHMM, PMP
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability
Adjunct Faculty, Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Contact: andrea.george@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-4551
  • Former VU sustainability and environmental management director for 6 years.
  • Former VEHS associate director for VU and VUMC for 19 years.
  • More than 25 years experience leading health, safety and sustainability programs for VU, ORNL, Bechtel National, and others.
  • 2021 University Excellence Award and Service Champion Award.
  • Board Certified by Eminence in Environmental Engineering by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
  • Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in engineering from Vanderbilt. Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and mathematics, Western KY University.

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY

Robin Trundy, MS, RBP, CBSP
Associate Director, Biological Safety and Institutional Biological Safety Officer

  • Contact: robin.trundy.1@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-8918
  • Joined EHS in 2021.
  • 11 years leading Vanderbilt’s biological safety program as BSO at both VU and VUMC.
  • 15 additional years in biosafety at other universities and contract research labs.
  • Registered Biological Safety Professional and Certified Biological Safety Professional (ABSA).
  • Mentor under the Department of Defense sponsored Middle Eastern and Northern African (MENA) twinning program.
  • Master of Science degree in environmental health management, Oregon State University. Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Gannon University.

Kyle Becker, MS
Senior Safety Officer, Biological Safety

  • Contact: kyle.becker@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-8363
  • Joined EHS in March 2022.
  • 12 years at Vanderbilt as graduate student and research assistant in VUSE.
  • 14 journal publications.
  • Eagle Scout and National Distinguished Service Award.
  • Master of Science degree in microbiology and immunology, Vanderbilt University. Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and genetics/cell biology/development, University of Minnesota.

Kendra Hoffsmith, BS
Safety Officer, Biological Safety

  • Contact: kendra.hoffsmith@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-3876
  • Joined EHS in January 2024.
  • 2 years as lab manager in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (MPB) at Vanderbilt University.
  • 2 years as a research assistant in Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences (ACBS) at the University of Arizona.
  • 3 journal publications.
  • Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology, University of Arizona.

Matt Loch, BS
Safety Officer, Biological Safety

  • Contact: matthew.t.loch@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-7827
  • Joined EHS in April 2022.
  • 8 years as research assistant and then lab manager at Vanderbilt’s Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery and SOM-BS.
  • Over a decade experience in university and industry analytical labs.
  • 13 journal publications.
  • Eagle Scout.
  • Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, University of Pittsburgh.

Katrina Ngo, PhD
Safety Officer, Biological Safety

  • Contact: Katrina.ngo@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-2193
  • Joined EHS in March 2024.
  • 7 years at Vanderbilt as a graduate student and lab manager in the Biological Sciences Department.
  • 3 years as a mentor for the SyBBURE Searle Undergraduate Research Program at Vanderbilt University.
  • 3 journal publications.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Biological sciences, Vanderbilt University. Bachelor of arts degree in biology and history with a minor in gender studies from Austin college.

CHEMICAL SAFETY and HAZARDOUS WASTE

Edward Krise, MS, CIH, CSP, CHMM, CPEA, CIT
Assistant Director, Chemical Safety and Chemical Safety Officer

  • Contact: edward.krise@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-3308
  • Joined EHS in December 2023.
  • Over 15 years as an EHS manager with an additional 12 years in operations in the environmental services industry.
  • Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA), Certified Instructional Trainer (CIT)
  • Master of Science degree in occupational safety and health, Columbia Southern University. Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, West Virginia Institute of Technology.

Steve Gild, MS, CHMM
Program Manager, Environmental Compliance

  • Contact: steve.gild@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-3745
  • Joined VU in 2007.
  • 25+ years in environmental management of corporations and manufacturers such as General Electric, NBC/Universal, Johnson Controls and Carrier.
  • Certified Hazardous Materials Management (CHMM).
  • Master of Science degree in environmental science, Tennessee State University. Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management, Michigan State University.

Stephen Trundy, BS, CHMM
Program Manager, Hazardous Waste

  • Contact: stephen.trundy@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-1298
  • Joined EHS in September 2022.
  • 6 years at VUMC OCRS managing Vanderbilt’s hazardous chemical waste.
  • Over 18 years safety and environmental coordinator experience at universities.
  • 7 additional years in industry.
  • Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).
  • Bachelor of Science degree in biology/chemistry, University of Arkansas.

Joe Hegarty, BS
Safety Officer, Chemical Safety

  • Contact: joseph.hegarty@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-0572
  • Joined EHS in September 2022.
  • 3 years as Occupational Safety Specialist at Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA).
  • Over a decade as a lab chemist and research assistant in industry.
  • Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, Temple University.

 

Brenda Birch, BS
Safety Officer, Chemical Safety

  • Contact: brenda.hurlbut@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-6393
  • Joined EHS in July 2024.
  • 3 years as Occupational Safety Specialist with Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA).
  • Undergraduate intern at Tennessee Department of Health, Laboratories Division, Radiochemistry.
  • Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, Austin Peay State University.

 

Matthew Menna, BS
Safety Officer, Chemical Safety

  • Contact: matthew.f.menna@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-0345
  • Joined EHS in July 2024.
  • Spent the past year as an Analytical Chemist and Laboratory Safety officer for Pace Analytical
  • Combined 5 years as a psychiatric technician in a Nashville clinic and suicide intervention counselor with the NSPL
  • Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience, Penn State University.

 

RADIATION and LASER SAFETY

Marcus Balanky, CHP, CLSO, CIH
Assistant Director, Radiation Safety and Radiation Safety Officer

  • Contact: marcus.balanky@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-8317
  • Joined EHS in April 2023.
  • 20 years health and safety experience in university and national lab environments such as NASA, SLAC and ORNL.
  • Certified Health Physicist, Certified Laser Safety Officer, and Certified Industrial Hygienist.
  • Bachelor of Science in nuclear and radiological engineering, University of TN Knoxville.

Sergey Avanesyan, PhD, CLSO
Senior Safety Officer, Laser Safety

  • Contact: sergey.m.avanesyan@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-2336
  • Joined EHS in July 2020.
  • 10 years previously at Vanderbilt as an engineer in the Free Electron Laser Center and research assistant professor in Physics and Astronomy department.
  • 5 years at Fisk University as manager of the Tunable Femtosecond Laser Facility.
  • Certified Laser Safety Officer.
  • Doctor of Philosophy degree in laser physics, Moscow State University. Master of Science degree in laser physics and nonlinear optics, Yerevan State University.

Benedicta Amankwah
Safety Officer, Radiation Safety

  • Contact: benedicta.a.amankwah@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-9176
  • Joined EHS in September 2024.
  • Masters of Science degree in radiological health science, Alcorn State University.
  • Bachelor of Science degree in radiation technology (health physics), Alcorn State University.

 

Jamie Bunch, BS
Safety Officer, Radiation Safety

  • Contact: james.m.bunch@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-3967
  • Joined EHS in July 2023.
  • Over 20 years of inspection and enforcement experience in the Division of Radiological Health with the State of Tennessee.
  • Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Middle Tennessee State University.

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Leigh Shoup, MEd
Senior Administrative Officer

  • Contact: leigh.shoup@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-4212
  • Joined EHS in September 2023.
  • Over 17 years experience at Vanderbilt in administrative roles in the Office of the Provost, Chancellor’s Office, and Vice Chancellor for Administration Offices at Vanderbilt.
  • Over 19 years experience at universities.
  • Project management experience leading development of FutureVU comprehensive land use plan.
  • Master of Education degree in organizational leadership, Vanderbilt University. Bachelor of Science degree in business and economics, Nazareth College.

Jeremy Crantek, BS
Systems Administrator and Data Coordinator

  • Contact: jeremy.crantek@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-1394
  • Joined EHS in January 2023.
  • 13 years supporting engineering firms as an analyst, IT project manager, and data warehouse administrator.
  • Bachelor of Science degree in data analytics and data management, Western Governor’s University.

 

SUSTAINABILITY

Cesar Castro, MFA, MUP, MDes, AICP
Director, Sustainability

  • Contact: cesar.castro@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-2604; https://www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainability/
  • Joined VU in September 2024
  • Former Chief Policy and Planning Officer for the State of North Carolina’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency
  • More than 12 years of experience championing sustainable and resilient solutions
  • AICP certified urban planner
  • Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Colombia, 2012-2015)
  • Active member of Nashville’s Sustainability Advisory Committee
  • Master’s in urban planning and Master’s in design studies – risk and resilience from Harvard University; Master’s in creative writing – poetry from North Carolina State University.

Chelsea Hamilton, MS, LEEP AP BD+C
Program Manager, Sustainability

  • Contact: chelsea.hamilton@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-9022; https://www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainability/ 
  • Joined VU in October 2014.
  • Undergraduate intern in VU sustainability office.
  • Previously worked at Village Real Estate’s Go Green program.
  • Master of Science degree in sustainability, Lipscomb University. Bachelor of Arts degree in biology/anthropology, Vanderbilt University.