Tom Bannard (he/him/his), CADC, MBA, is the Program Coordinator for Rams in Recovery at Virginia Commonwealth University. A person in long-term recovery, Tom is an advocate for people in recovery or who are struggling with a substance use disorder. VCU’s program has grown rapidly in the past five years with more than 60 student members and a variety of recovery supports. Tom is the lead for a grant through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to expand Collegiate Recovery at 6 schools across the state of Virginia. Tom is passionate about changing the way we treat substance use and firmly believes that we must improve our systems of care by focusing on long-term recovery supports, allowing easier access to treatment and recovery resources, educating and supporting family members, and reducing stigma around substance use.