VCCS - Key Persons


Abbie Brewer

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Professor Mathematics

Acevedo, Emilio

Job Titles:
  • Information Technology Services Manager, Access and Content Applications

Adkins, Lisa

Job Titles:
  • Information Technology Services

Alessio, James

Job Titles:
  • Research and Reporting

Allen, Shenda

Job Titles:
  • HR Consultant
  • Human Resource Services

Andrea Altizer

Job Titles:
  • Health Professions and Medical Services Administrative Assistant

Andrew Kachur

Job Titles:
  • Executive Coordinator to the Chancellor, Staff to Cabinet

Angel, Rachel

Job Titles:
  • Student Experience and Strategic Initiatives / Coordinator of Student Support Technologies

Ann Beaver

Job Titles:
  • Educational Foundation Bookkeeper

Anthony "Tony" Miller

Anthony "Tony" Miller served more than 37 years in the electric utility industry, with experience in a wide variety of functions. While at Appalachian Power Company, he held positions in transmission, engineering supervisor, distribution line supervisor, safety, continuous improvement manager, and Project Controls Manager for APCO. A Virginia Community College alumnus, Miller serves on the Foundation Board at Virginia Highlands Community College, after serving more than eleven years as a trustee. He is Past President of the Washington County, Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Past Executive Chair of the Southwest Virginia American Heart Association. He received the Washington County Virginia Leadership award in 2016, Distinguished Alumni Award from Southwest Higher Education Center in 2017 as the Old Dominion University representative, and received the 2024 Chancellors award for Philanthropy at VHCC. Miller earned an A.S. In Electronics from Virginia Highlands Community College, a B.S. in Occupational and Technical Studies, and an M.S. in Industrial Technology from Old Dominion University. He resides in Damascus, Virginia on a small cattle farm with his wife Cathy. They have two sons and three grandchildren. After retirement, Miller and his wife opened a fishing guide business named Miller's Mountain Anglers, LLC.

Anthony, Matthew


Asare, Perry

Job Titles:
  • Information Technology Services / Senior Systems Engineer

Babb, Jim


Bachu, Lavan

Job Titles:
  • Information Technology Services / Enterprise PS Analyst / Developer

Brandie Arnold


Bruce Meyer


David Elmore

Job Titles:
  • Founder and CEO of Financial Management Inc
David Elmore is the founder and CEO of Financial Management Inc., bookkeeper.com, and Mission Coffee in Waynesboro Virginia. He has served on several community boards including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Augusta County, DuPont Community Credit Union, New Life Ministries, and Waynesboro Foursquare Church. Presently he is a Governor for Opportunity International. David is deeply committed to foreign missions and is a founding member of Mission of Hope Bolivia, a Christian-based medical clinic. After attending Blue Ridge Community College, David earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Eastern Mennonite University. He received his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2014. He has been acknowledged as a leading advisor by attaining LPL's Summit or Chairman's Club status annually since 2012 and has been named in the Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors ranking.

Deanna Bradberry

Job Titles:
  • Director of Institutional Advancement

Deborah Alexander

Job Titles:
  • Front Desk Support Specialist

Denita Burnett

Job Titles:
  • Executive Secretary to the President

Dennis Boyer

Job Titles:
  • Police Officer / Crossroads

Devin Allison

Job Titles:
  • Welding Instructor

Dr. Cornelius Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Interim President, Danville Community College

Dr. Craig Herndon

Job Titles:
  • Executive Vice Chancellor & Chief of Staff

Dr. David Doré

Job Titles:
  • Chancellor
  • Member of the State Board
  • Chancellor, Virginia 's Community Colleges
  • State Board Secretary and Chief Executive Officer
  • Virginia Community College System Chancellor
David Doré became Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) on April 1, 2023. Dr. Doré is the tenth person to lead the system, which was founded in 1966. In his position, Dr. Doré provides day-to-day leadership for a system serving more than 200,000 degree-seeking and workforce-career training students annually. He oversees 23 independently accredited community colleges across 40 locations in every corner of Virginia. Read more about Dr. Doré Virginia Community College System Chancellor, Dr. David Doré, remarks on the partnership between businesses and community colleges and its impact on strengthening Virginia's workforce and providing career opportunities that supports students' futures. VCCS Chancellor David Dore made the following statement, responding to Virginia's First Place finish in CNBC's 2024 ranking of...

Dr. Ellen Davenport

Job Titles:
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations

Dr. Felicia Ganther

Job Titles:
  • Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic & Workforce Services

Dr. Jennifer Gentry

Job Titles:
  • Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement

Dr. Michael Russell

Job Titles:
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for IT Services & CIO

Dr. Sasha Gong

Job Titles:
  • Journalist
Sasha Gong is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author. She is also an independent filmmaker, producer, and educator. A former political prisoner in China, Gong has previously been named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in the Chinese-speaking world. She is also a prior member of the Virginia State Board for Community Colleges, having been appointed in 2010 by then-Governor Bob McDonnell. From 2014 to 2017, Gong served as senior correspondent, producer, and analyst for Voice of America (VOA). In that role, she covered the 2016 election, including the RNC and DNC conventions. In 2017, she was named Director of Mandarin Service at VOA. In the mid-to-late 90s, Gong served as a faculty member at both UCLA and Johns Hopkins University. In 2008, she joined the faculty at George Mason University. Gong graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Peking University in 1983. She would go on to earn her master's in history three years later. In 1995, Gong earned her doctorate in sociology from Harvard University.

Dr. Tommy Wright

Job Titles:
  • Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance & Operations

Dr. Victoria Sue Ratliff

Job Titles:
  • Interim President, Southwest Virginia Community College

Edward C. Dalrymple

Job Titles:
  • President of Chemung Contracting Corporation
Edward C. Dalrymple, Jr. was appointed to the State Board by Governor Terry McAuliffe to begin a four-year term effective July 1, 2017. Dalrymple serves as president of Chemung Contracting Corporation, Dalrymple Holding Corporation, and Cedar Mountain Stone Corporation. He serves on a variety of boards regarding Virginia transportation issues including research, quality and training. He is past president and current treasurer of the Virginia Asphalt Association, and past president and current board member of Old Dominion Contractors Association, as well as a board member of the Germanna Community College Education Foundation. Dalrymple received a Bachelor's degree in Construction Technology from Louisiana Polytechnical Institute of Technology and an Associate degree in Civil Technology from Broome Technical Community College in Binghamton, New York.

Jacob Beasley

Job Titles:
  • Coordinator of Diesel Training

Jeffrey V. Haley

Job Titles:
  • President of American National Bank
Jeff Haley has served as President of American National Bank and Trust Company since 2010 and as Chief Executive Officer of the bank since 2012. He has served as President of the holding company since 2013. Prior to these positions, Haley served as Senior Vice President of the bank as well as President of Trust and Financial Services. He also spent time as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the bank. Haley is an alumnus of James Madison University and North Carolina School of Executive Bank Manage ment. Active in many professional and civic organizations, he serves as a board member for the following entities: Virginia Business Council, Bankers Insurance, the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, and the Virginia Bankers Association Management Services, Inc. Additionally, he serves as Treasurer of the Future of the Piedmont Foundation and was past chairman of the Virginia Bankers Association.

Jeremy Satterfield

A lifelong resident of Southern Virginia, Jeremy Satterfield is committed to bridging the gap between rural Virginia and the rest of the commonwealth, with special focus on education, health care and telecommunications, all fields where he has professional experience. Educated in Halifax County, Satterfield earned his bachelor's degree at Longwood University and earned a certificate of Leadership from the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia. Satterfield currently serves as the Microsoft TechSpark Community Engagement Manager for Southern Virginia and serves on various boards throughout the region, chambers of commerce, IDA's, and educational foundations. He and his wife have three children.

Jessica Amos

Job Titles:
  • Chemistry

Jill Boukadida

Job Titles:
  • New Student Onboarding Specialist

Kristie Bryant

Job Titles:
  • Associate Professor, Human Services

Malinda Carter

Job Titles:
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Services

Mark J. Hourigan

Job Titles:
  • Founder and CEO of the Richmond
Mark Hourigan is founder and CEO of the Richmond development and construction firm that bears his name. He has more than 30 years of experience in the development and commercial construction industry. His ability to understand the big picture, coupled with his keen eye for detail, consistently allow him to focus on the drivers of success for Hourigan Construction's clients. Acting as a champion for innovation and fostering a consultative approach, he has instilled a discipline for continuous improvement throughout his organization. Growing the next generation of industry leaders is a passion that has led to a role on the Advisory Board at the Virginia Tech School of Building Construction. In this role, he serves as a guest lecturer, assists in developing curriculum, sponsors internships and provides real world experience for capstone coursework by integrating the students into Hourigan projects. In addition to his professional leadership, Hourigan serves on numerous community service boards.

Mary M. Barnett

Job Titles:
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Director of Internal Audit
Mary has been with the VCCS since 2012 and has held the Director position since 2020. Prior to the VCCS Mary worked at the University of Richmond and the Department of Corrections in Internal Audit and Hotline Investigator roles. After spending more than 30 years in Higher Education auditing Mary remains convinced that this is the best job there is. She is so grateful to work in the Community College realm, knowing the enormous and often almost instantaneous difference that a Community College credential can make in the lives of our students and their families. Mary is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Information Systems Auditor. She holds a bachelor's degree from William and Mary, and an MBA from VCU.

Maurice Jones

Job Titles:
  • Business Leader
  • CEO of OneTen
Maurice Jones is the CEO of OneTen , a coalition of companies dedicated to upskilling, hiring and promoting one million African Americans by the end of the 2020s. Jones, an innovative business leader and prominent social advocate, previously served as president and CEO of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), one of the country's largest organizations dedicated to bringing community development projects to fruition. Prior to joining LISC, Jones worked as Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia. From April 2012 through January 2014, Jones served as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) where he managed the Department's day-to-day operations, its annual operating budget of $40 billion and the agency's nearly 9,000 employees. Jones, a native of rural Mecklenberg County, VA, received his bachelor's degree in political science from Hampden-Sydney College and attended Oxford University in England on a Rhodes Scholarship, where he received a Master of Philosophy in International Relations. He later received a juris doctor from the University of Virginia.

Michael Eric Wooten

Job Titles:
  • Vice Chair
  • Senior Partner at Wooten & Associates Experts
Michael Eric Wooten of Woodbridge is the Senior Partner at Wooten & Associates Experts. A retired Federal government executive, he was nominated and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy at the White House. Additionally, he served at the U.S. Department of Education in various roles, including Senior Advisor in the Office of Federal Student Aid, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges, and Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education. At the U.S. Department of Education, Wooten directed a national education portfolio that included advocacy for community colleges, career and technical education (CTE), and adult literacy education. He directed national initiatives serving more than 17 million students through a staff of 75 personnel and was a key participant in new national initiatives to expand apprenticeships and strengthen the national workforce. Wooten was a member and Chairman of the Northern Virginia Community College Board. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Major, and is a veteran of Afghanistan. Wooten earned his Ed.D. degree in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned master's degrees at George Washington University, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and Norwich University. He earned his bachelor's degree at Chapman University and his A.A. at Perimeter College at Georgia State University.

Michel Zajur

Job Titles:
  • President and CEO of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Michel Zajur currently serves as president and CEO of The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held for more than two decades.

Michelle Bryant

Job Titles:
  • Recovery Support Specialist

Missy Arnold

Job Titles:
  • Administrative & Office Specialist to Upward Bound

Natalie Byrd


Noëlle Shaw-Bell

Job Titles:
  • System Counsel

Odell "Ray" Wood - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

Peggy Layne

Peggy Layne thinks of herself as a "professional volunteer." After a 40-year career with Dominion Energy, she retired and now dedicates her energy and diverse business experience to work for organizations that make her community a better place to live. While living in Hampton Roads, Peggy supported The Tidewater Community College's Women's Center Advisory Council and the school's Educational Foundation Board. She served on the boards of An Achievable Dream-Virginia Beach and Virginia Musical Theatre. After moving to Richmond in 2017, Peggy continued working with the RVA-757 Connects and joined the board of An Achievable Dream-Certified Academies. She is the past chair the Citizens' Advisory Council on the Furnishing and Interpretation of the Executive Mansion. In 2021, Peggy returned to the Hampton Roads area. She continued her support of several organizations and joined the board of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Peggy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from George Mason University and a Master's of Education in Human Resource Development from George Washington University. She is a graduate of the Lead Hampton Roads (1989) and CIVIC Leadership Institute-Class of 2017.

Randall Stamper

Job Titles:
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for Career Education and Workforce Programs

Rodney Alderman

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Professor of English

Rose Marie Owen

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, Staff to the Cabinet

Sandra Blevins

Job Titles:
  • Administrative Assistant for the Henderson / Henderson

Stacy Burchett

Job Titles:
  • Student Support Services Counselor

Steve Burnette

Job Titles:
  • Police Officer

Susan Pollard

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications

Terri Thompson - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Fellow
Terri Thompson was elected by fellow board members to serve as chair of the VCCS State Board for a one-year term starting July 1, 2024. She had served as vice-chair the previous year. Thompson was appointed to the VCCS State Board by Governor Ralph Northam to begin a two-year term beginning July 1, 2019. She was subsequently reappointed to the Board to begin a four-year term in June of 2021. Thompson earned her master's degree in science from The American College in 2019. She earned her bachelor's degree in science from Lincoln University in 1986. Thompson currently chairs the Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health Board; a position she's held since 2018. She is also a longtime member of the Tidewater Community College Board and a 2011 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.

Wiley "Bif" Johnson

Job Titles:
  • President and CEO of Hurt & Proffitt
Wiley "Bif" Johnson currently serves as president and CEO of Hurt & Proffitt (H&P). He began working at the Lynchburg-based engineering and surveying firm as an intern while attending classes at nearby Central Virginia Community College (CVCC). After graduating from CVCC, Johnson transferred to Virginia Tech where he earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation, he returned to H&P as a project engineer. In 2008, Johnson became chief executive officer of H&P. Under his leadership, the firm has doubled in size and has become well-known in the engineering consulting world. Johnson places a premium on giving back to the community. He has served in a volunteer capacity on a variety of different boards and committees over the last 17 years, including the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DOPR) Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape. He currently serves as vice chair of the DPOR Board for Contractors and has been serving on that board since 2018. Johnson is most proud of his association with the Central Virginia Community College Educational Foundation Board, which he has served on since 2016.

William Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Vice Chancellor for Finance & Capital Resources