Education: TRACY FITZSIMMONS

Fitzsimmons is the first woman president in Shenandoah University’s nearly 150-year history. Since 2008, she has led the private, liberal-arts university, which she joined in 2001 as dean of arts and sciences. Noting that it is unusual to hold multiple administrative positions at one university, Fitzsimmons said in an interview with Virginia Business this year that she felt fortunate to sustain a longer connection with the school, which has presences in Loudoun and Fairfax counties, in addition to its Winchester campus. The university has seen steady enrollment growth, unlike other private colleges.

During the height of the pandemic, SU hosted a mass vaccination site at its athletics center and helped reopen classes by adopting hybrid measures based on students’ needs.

A graduate of Princeton and Stanford universities, Fitzsimmons also serves on the boards of Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. and GO Virginia’s Region 8 council.

ONE THING I’D CHANGE ABOUT VIRGINIA: I would encourage Virginia’s business and political leaders to recognize that nonprofit colleges and universities serve the commonwealth, its communities and citizens in critical ways.