Whitney Slightham has been promoted to the director of communications position at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

Slightham previously served as the assistant director of communications at the research institute. In her new position, she will manage the research institute’s integrated marketing communications strategy. As a member of the research institute’s advancement team, she will also help expand donor engagement strategies to meet the institute’s philanthropic goals.

John Pastor will continue to serve in his role as the senior communications director for the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and for the Virginia Tech Office of the Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology.

Slightham first joined Virginia Tech in 2019 as the research institute’s assistant communications director. 

“Ms. Slightham has raised the profile of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and its faculty through the development and deployment of traditional and digital platforms,” said Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Virginia Tech’s vice president for health sciences and technology. “She helps us tell important stories about the innovations and discoveries made by the faculty, staff and students and reinforces the research institute’s already strong connection with the Virginia Tech community as well as with Roanoke and the surrounding area. I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new capacity and with John Pastor and the rest of our outstanding communications team on many important initiatives.”