Responsibilities: Panella coordinates the creative staff in planning, design and production of multimedia, including game-day programs, brochures, posters, schedule cards and media guides, as well as electronic documents and web pages intended to inform the public and enhance the department’s brand. She also supports the digital preservation of historical images and file documents that the athletics department possesses.

Joined VT Athletics Staff: 1979

At Virginia Tech: Panella has been involved with planning and organizing publication production, first as a graphic artist and then assistant and associate sports information director, before moving into her current position as publications director.

Prior to Virginia Tech: Panella worked for a Blacksburg publisher of scientific journals and then in The Blacksburg Sun composition department before joining the athletics staff as a graphic artist.

Education: Virginia Tech, 1974 (B.S. in clothing & textiles); South Carolina, 2011 (master of library and information science)

Personal: Panella graduated from First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, Va., and is married, with a grown daughter and son, both Hokie grads with families of their own. She enjoys spending spare time with family and friends, grandchildren and pets.