CHAMP Welcomes New Executive Director

By Julie Davids

Earlier this year, CHAMP initiated a search for a new Executive Director as part of a transition plan to ensure our continued sustainability and flexibility as a national organization bridging HIV/AIDS, human rights, and social and economic justice.

I am delighted to announce that the CHAMP Board of Directors has hired Vanessa Brocato as Executive Director of CHAMP.

Vanessa joined the staff in our New York City office at the beginning of September.

Vanessa brings a wide range of experience and skills, as well as tremendous energy and creativity, to her new position.

Her HIV/AIDS work began as a Stop AIDS Chicago trained peer educator in high school and then as president of her college LGBTQ organization. After receiving her degree in Women's Studies from Bradley University, she earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where she received the human rights award for her graduating class.

Most recently, Vanessa worked as the Assistant Director for Prevention Policy at Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC).

She has also served in various capacities at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research; Family Care International; Housing Works; the Sexuality Information & Education Council of the United States (SIECUS); Whitman-Walker HIV/AIDS Clinic, Legal Services; and the Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program.

Vanessa is also a founding member of the Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention. This year, she served as a contributing editor to the Caucus's daily newsletter at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. At the conference, she also co-presented the sexuality education advocacy workshop at the YouthForce Pre-Conference and blogged for www.AIDS2008.com.

In 2007, Vanessa was a key member of the coordinating team for the Women Deliver conference and advocacy campaign launched in London. In this capacity, Vanessa worked with advocates worldwide to facilitate the involvement of HIV-positive women, harm reduction advocates, women with disabilities, women who have experienced imprisonment, and young people into this pivotal conference on maternal health (MDG 5).

Her publications include "National Human Rights Commissions" in Voices of African Women: Women's Rights in Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania (Carolina Academic Press); Understanding Religious and Political Opposition to Reproductive Health and Rights: a Resource Guide; and the SIECUS PEPFAR Country Profiles: Focusing in on Prevention and Youth (2005).

As CHAMP's founding Executive Director, I welcome Vanessa as our first hired Executive Director and look forward to working with her as we enter the next phase of our work.