Meet the EHS Staff

Andrea George, PhD, BCEEM, CHMM, PMP
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability
Co-Commander, Vanderbilt Public Health Central Command Center
Adjunct Faculty, Civil and Environmental Engineering

• 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.
• Contact: andrea.george@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-4551

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY

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

• 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.
• Contact: robin.trundy.1@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-8918

Kyle Becker, MS
Senior Safety Officer, Biological Safety

• 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.
• Contact: kyle.becker@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-8363

Matt Loch, BS
Safety Officer, Biological Safety

• 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.
• Contact: matthew.t.loch@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-7827

Amy Silvers, BSN, RN
Program Manager, Public Health

• 3 years leading the Vanderbilt Public Health Central Command Center as program manager and lead contact tracer.
• Over a decade experience in nursing.
• Joint position supporting biosafety programs such as bloodborne pathogens and public health programs such as student medication management and opioid overdose prevention.
• Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, Bradley University.

CHEMICAL SAFETY & HAZARDOUS WASTE

Stephen Trundy, BS, CHMM
Senior Safety Officer, Hazardous Waste

• 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.
• Contact: stephen.trundy@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-1298

Joe Hegarty, BS
Safety Officer, Chemical Safety

• 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.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
• Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, Temple University.
• Contact: joseph.hegarty@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-0572

Jennifer Sanford-Burke, MS, CSP
Safety Officer, Hazardous Waste

• Joined EHS in January 2023.
• 8 years as plant safety manager at Schneider Electric, Nissan, and other manufacturing facilities.
• 12 years in Army Chemical Corps.
• Received Bronze Star for service.
• Master of Science degree in environmental management, Webster University. Bachelor of Science degree agriculture science, Cal Poly.
• Contact: jennifer.burke@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-3507

Cameron Taylor, MS
Safety Officer, Chemical Safety

• Joined EHS in September 2022.
• 8 years as safety, health and environmental coordinator in industry.
• Master of Science degree in environmental, safety and health, University of Wisconsin. Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health, Illinois State University.
• Contact: cameron.taylor.1@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-1671

RadiATION SAFETY

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

• 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.
• Contact: marcus.balanky@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-8317

LASER SAFETY

Sergey Avanesyan, PhD, CLSO
Laser Safety Officer

• 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.
• Contact: sergey.m.avanesyan@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-2336

OTHER STAFF ROLES

Jeremy Crantek, BS
Systems Administrator and Data Coordinator

• 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.
• Contact: jeremy.crantek@vanderbilt.edu; 615-343-1394

Steve Gild, MS, CHMM
Senior Safety Officer, Environmental Compliance

• 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.
• Contact: steve.gild@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-3745

Chelsea Hamilton, MS, LEEP AP BD+C
Senior Safety Officer, 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.
• Contact: chelsea.hamilton@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-9022; https://www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainability/