OFFICE ADDRESS:
HOME ADDRESS:
PHONE:
Department of Human Development
366 Wallace Hall (0416)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
3050 Golf Colony Drive
Salem, VA 24153
(540)231-9099 (w)
(540)389-5525 (h)
FAX: (540)231-7012
Email: mverdu@vt.edu
EDUCATION: Doctoral studies in Public Administration & Policy, Virginia Tech
M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University, 1980
B.S., Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 1975
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:
2008-current Sr. Instructor, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Director, Undergraduate Studies
Virginia Tech, Department of Human Development
2005-2008 Assistant Department Head
Virginia Tech, Dept. of Human Development
2004-05 Associate Director, Virginia. Tech,
Institute for Community Health
Instructor and Coordinator of Undergraduate Field Studies
Virginia Tech, Department of Human Development
1998-present
1997-98
1996-1998
1984-1992
Instructor, Radford University, School of Social Work
Adjunct Faculty, Radford University, School of Social Work
Adjunct Faculty, Va. Commonwealth University, School of Social Work

2004
1999-2001
2000
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1992-1994 Executive Director, Virginia Council on Child Day Care and Early
Childhood Programs, a state agency cross-cutting health and human services, education and economic development. Administered federal
Child Care & Development Block Grant, Head Start Collaboration Grant
1988-1992
1980-1988 and Governor’s Drug Prevention Funds. Budget: $30 M, 12 staff.
Director, Montgomery County Department of Social Services, providing comprehensive family & child welfare and economic assistance to low-income citizens. Operating budget $2.5 M, 49 staff.
Director of Community Resources, Council of Community Services,
Roanoke, VA. Established regional human services information & referral network, USDA Child Care Nutrition Program serving 28 counties in southwest Virginia, regional childcare education and referral network for corporate clients. Conducted needs assessments, program and agency evaluations, strategic planning and technical assistance to state agencies, non-profits, funding bodies and local governments.
CONSULTING EXPERIENCE:
2007-08 Comprehensive human services needs assessment for Wythe & Bland
Counties and strategic planning for H.O.P.E., Inc.
2007
2004-2005
Organizational development consultation for CADDY, Bland County
Prevention Council.
As Associate Director for VT Institute for Community Health directed these projects: :
VDH: Chronic disease coalition study
VDH: Comprehensive Cancer Report for Southwest VA
Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia: Needs Assessment for
Planning District III
Metropolitan. Washington Council of Governments: Annual Report
On Traffic Safety & Alcohol Use
Strategic planning for Virginia Association of Free Clinics. With James
Bohland
Strategic planning for local free clinics including the Pharmacy Access
Coalition of Central Virginia, Augusta County, Rockbridge and Lexington
Area Free Clinics, and Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic. With James Bohland.
Strategic planning with Virginia Tech Council on International Programs.

1998
1998
1989
1987-1988
1985
Strategic planning for Southwest Virginia Health Systems Agency, Roanoke, VA
Coordination & evaluation of direct services and executive level interagency
Teams serving at-risk children in compliance with Virginia Comprehensive
Services Act for City of Roanoke, VA
Consultant to Virginia Tech in planning and development of a Child Care
Resource and Referral network for faculty and staff (now known as Family/Work
Life Resources.
Program evaluation of federally funded “Comprehensive Community-Based
Traffic Safety Program”. With D.N. Saunders and C. Bernard Scotch.
Consultant to Roanoke City Manager and City Council appointed task force,
Roanoke, VA. Designed and supervised a study of housing & homelessness in the Roanoke Valley, and assisted in the drafting of recommendations to address the needs of the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
Current:
Virginia Tech Child Care Commission (past chair)
Member, Strategic Planning Committee, North Cross School
Court Appointed Special Advocate, Roanoke Valley CASA
Previous:
Montgomery County, VA, Emergency Assistance Program, Board Member
Radford University School of Social Work, Professional Advisory Committee (past chair)
Va. Council on Coordinating Prevention, Institute for Education Leadership, Policy Response
Team
Virginia Department for Children, Day Care Advisory Council
Virginia Commission on Early Childhood & Child Day Care Programs, commission member
Virginia Council on Child Day Care & Early Childhood Programs, council member
AWARDS:
League of Social Service Directors, commendation for service, 1991
Virginia Headstart Association, appreciation award, 1992
Va. Tech., CLAHS, Excellence in Undergraduate Student Advising, 2003
Va. Tech., Award for Excellence in Career Advising, 2008
Warren Lloyd Holtzman Seed Grant for faculty research excellence for “Whistle-blowing for
Profit” with Thomas Carson & Richard E. Wokutch, 2008

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS:
Richard Wokutch and Mary Ellen Verdu. “Improving social service planning in a changing environment: the need for an environmental information system.” Journal of the Community
Development Society, Vol. 14, No. 2, 1983
Thomas Carson, Mary Ellen Verdu and Richard E. Wokutch. “Whistleblowing for profit: an ethical analysis of the federal False Claims Act.” Journal of Business Ethics (2008), 77:361-376.
Richard Wokutch and Mary Ellen Verdu. “Teaching Ethics and Leadership with Films”.
Forthcoming presentation at International Society for Business, Economics & Ethics, 4 th World
Congress, Capetown, South Africa, July, 2008.