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Education 2025: PAINO, TROY D.
In 2024, UMW introduced three new majors (applied mathematics and statistics, data science as well as management and entrepreneurship) and three new minors (disability studies, global history and professional writing). The school also signed a partnership with the University of Virginia, streamlining the admissions process for U[...]
Education 2025: KELLY, REAR ADM. WILLIAM G. (U.S. COAST GUARD, RET.)
After nearly four decades of service in the U.S. Coast Guard, Kelly became CNU’s sixth president in 2023. Founded in 1960 as Christopher Newport College, a two-year branch of William & Mary, CNU is a four-year public university with about 5,000 students. The new Science and Engineering Research Center is under construc[...]
Education 2025: GUIDERA, AIMEE ROGSTAD
In 2021, Guidera was the first state secretary appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a signal of the importance he placed on the post. A proponent of charter schools and parental involvement in education, Guidera is responsible for leading the state’s public schools and has significant influence on postsecondary institutions, [...]
Education 2025: HEMPHILL, BRIAN O.
Old Dominion merged with Eastern Virginia Medical School in July 2024 to form the largest suite of health care programs in state higher education, with 56 academic programs. Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University received a $20 million gift from Joan Brock and another $20 million gift from Den[...]
Education 2025: ROBERTSON, GORDON P.
Robertson became chancellor of the private, conservative Christian university in 2023 following the death at age 93 of his famous and controversial father, Pat Robertson, who founded the school in 1977. Gordon Robertson had succeeded his father in 2007 as president and CEO of Christian Broadcasting Network and host of its flagsh[...]
Education 2025: COLLINS, LANCE R.
Collins came to Virginia from Cornell University in August 2020 to build Virginia Tech’s $1 billion Innovation Campus and aid the commonwealth’s efforts to close a regional tech talent gap. The first academic building on the Alexandria campus opened earlier this year, but computer science and engineering students sta[...]
Education 2025: ABDULLAH, MAKOLA M.
A scan of Abdullah’s accomplishments since joining the public, historically Black university in 2016 makes clear why his résumé includes so many accolades, prestigious board appointments and spots on top 10 and “best of” lists — not to mention a multimillion-dollar contract to stay on as president through 2029. Und[...]
Education 2025: WILLIAMS, LT. GEN. DARRELL K. (U.S. ARMY, RET.)
Williams served more than 37 years in the U.S. military and in 2022 became president of Hampton University, a private, historically Black university founded in 1868 — and Williams’ alma mater. A retired Army lieutenant general, Williams was the first Black director of the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics A[...]
Education 2025: HENRY, DONNA PRICE
Henry is the college’s first female chancellor since its founding in 1954 as a junior college with two buildings. She presides over a four-year liberal arts college encompassing 396 acres with 26 main buildings, attended by more than 1,900 students. Chancellor since 2013, Henry previously spent 16 years in a variety of pos[...]
Education 2025: CONSTON, MARCIA
Conston became TCC’s sixth president in January 2020. Laser-focused on ensuring student success despite the daunting challenge, she guided the college forward with a strategic plan — Innovate 2026 — and a vision “to be the community’s first choice for education, opportunity, partnership and innovation.” The s[...]
Education 2025: WASHINGTON, GREGORY
In 2020, Washington became the first Black president of Virginia’s largest and most diverse public university. He was previously dean of the University of California, Irvine’s Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. A first-generation college graduate, Washington holds bachelor’s, master’s and [...]
Education 2025: SCHMIDT, JAMES C.
Hired in March, Schmidt became JMU’s new president in July. He was most recently chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he was recognized as a “stellar fundraiser” and brought in one of the largest gifts in that university’s history: a $70 million athletics donation. Schmidt’s 30-year c[...]
