2019 Board of Directors
Unwanna Dabney, PhD
Chapter President
Dr. Unwanna B. Dabney is Senior Planning Manager for AECOM. She has 21 years of leading transportation and policy projects and programs in Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Prior to joining the private sector, Dabney worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation. She led the statewide planning and programming efforts for the North Carolina Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). There she directed the statewide federal-aid program in the areas of community planning, air quality, congestion management, research, and intelligent transportation systems. She played a key role in advancing North Carolina's initiatives in strategic project prioritization, planning and environmental integration, and sustainability. She previously provided oversight for federal planning and programming activities in Virginia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands for FHWA. She also served as Transportation Planning Manager for the Hampton Roads District of the Virginia Department of Transportation, where she contributed to growing the organization, led initiatives in strategic planning, transportation demand management and HOV planning, bicycle and pedestrian planning, program development, and provided program, operational and staff oversight.
She serves on the Board of Directors of the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority. She was appointed to the Old Dominion University (ODU) Board of Visitors on July 1, 2018.
A native or Orangeburg, South Carolina, Dabney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from South Carolina State University, a Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Sarah Sciarrino, PE, AICP
VP of Administration
Sarah is as a traffic engineer and transportation planner at Kimley-Horn and Associates with seven years of experience. Sarah has been actively involved in the WTS Central Virginia Chapter since 2012 and was named the WTS Central Virginia Chapter Member of the Year in 2015.
Sarah received a BA in Physics from Colgate University in 2010 and a MS in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2011.
Emily Onufer
Treasurer
Emily Onufer is an Environmental Specialist at ATCS, PLC with two years of experience in the transportation industry. Her work focuses on environmental studies for linear transportation projects as well as emergency management preparedness and planning for disaster recovery. Though still fairly new to the transportation industry, Emily is passionate about supporting sustainable, equitable transportation projects and creating spaces and opportunities for women in the workplace.
Caitlin McHale, EIT
Secretary
Caitlin McHale has been actively involved with WTS over the past two years. After graduating from the University of South Florida, she joined the WTS Central Florida Chapter and quickly immersed herself in the "move-it-shake-it" mentality.
Caitlin relocated from Orlando to Richmond this past May, 2018. She has enjoyed continuing her involvement with WTS and sharing some of Central Florida's success stories with the Central Virginia Chapter.
Directors at Large
Jessie Yung, PE
Director at Large
For the past 13 years, Jessie has worked with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), working her way from Program Manager to Special Assistant to the Executive Director to Acting Division Administrator before becoming Virginia Division Administrator in October 2016. When Jessie was appointed to her position as Virginia Division Administrator, she became the first Asian-American woman in the Agency’s history to hold such a position.
As not only an Industry leader, Ms. Yung has been a champion of the WTS mission, and has supported the achievements of colleagues in transportation agencies, such as the Virginia Department of Rail and Transportation (DRPT) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Ms. Yung’s most recent accolade was her selection as the WTS 2018 Woman of the Year. During her acceptance speech of the award at the recent Annual Reception, Ms. Yung said “It is never to early to begin mentoring young girls.” She continued to focus on mentorship, diversity and leadership to say, “I challenge those that have been mentored or mentored for others, to ‘pay it forward’ to three individuals and help them, work with them and just listen to their interests, be an ambassador for WTS, and always seek ways to help others.”
Brennan Collier, AICP
Director at Large
Brennan Collier was a founding member of the WTS Central Virginia Chapter in 2006 and has been a member ever since. She brings 22 years of environmental compliance experience in the transportation industry, having previously served in roles with state and federal governments and consulting in Virginia, including the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Ms. Collier joined ATCS, PLC in May 2016 as Vice President of Environmental Services and currently serves as the South Regional Manager for the company. She graduated from George Mason University with degrees in Geology and Environmental Science and currently lives in Goochland, Virginia with her husband and young daughter.
Ms. Collier’s experience within WTS includes serving as the Chapter Programs Chair (2006-2008) and a Director at Large (2016-2018). In addition to her local presence, she also currently serves on the WTS Southeast Region Council (2018-2020). In 2016, Ms. Collier completed the WTS Executive Leadership Program and has continued to serve as an integral member of the organization.
Lorna Parkins, AICP
Director at Large
Lorna Parkins has 30 years of experience in transportation planning. She started her career with the Pittsburgh region MPO in Pennsylvania and has since worked as a consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Planning/Urban Affairs from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota.
Her professional activities include participating on a TRB committee on MPO planning, WTS International, the Virginia chapter of the American Planning Association (APA), and the Virginia Transit Association (VTA). She has been with Michael Baker International for 20 years, where she leads the company’s Mid-Atlantic Planning practice and facilitates coordination of transportation planning across the U.S.
Ms. Parkins is a founding member of the WTS Central Virginia Chapter and formerly served as a Chapter President.