With a host of college leaders from around the state joined by VCCS system office representatives, the Virginia Community Colleges Association (VCCA) met for its annual conference in Richmond in late September. VCCA’s members come from all sectors of Virginia’s Community Colleges: faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the VCCS gathered for professional development, networking, and to exchange ideas about how best to promote student and professional success.
VCCA President Donna Minnich, an associate dean at Northern Virginia 
Community College, said the theme of the 39th annual VCCA gathering was “The Heartbeat of Virginia,” explaining “the association and its members are an essential lifeline to the health and growth of a strong Virginia workforce and economy… making these members and the committed work they do, the true heartbeat of Virginia.”
“This is our time,” VCCS Chancellor David Doré told the conference. “It is a pleasure to be in the company of such dedicated professionals, especially at such a pivotal moment in higher education both nationally and throughout the Commonwealth. Virginia’s Community Colleges are poised to become the standard bearer of what post-secondary education can do for Virginians.”
Dr. Doré was also on hand to help celebrate the winners of VCCA’s annual statewide awards. Susan Simmers of Blue Ridge Community College (left) received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Tammy Johnson of Central Virginia Community College (right), received the VCCA’s Excellence in Education Award.
You can read about the VCCA’s additional awards on the organization’s website.
The conference closing events included the ceremonial hand-off of the gavel, as Dr. Minnich installed new VCCA President, Lisa Shifflett, a high school career advisor at Germanna Community College. Seen above, the 2023-24 VCCA Executive Committee (l to r): Dr. Minnich, Past-president/Parliamentarian; Catherine Rice, Treasurer; Wanda Davis-Alves, President-Elect; Sherice Paige, Member-at-large; Lisa Shiflett, President.
“The success of this year’s event sets the stage for 2024,” said Shifflett. We’re coming off great momentum and intend to build on that throughout this coming year. Planning is already underway to work with our commission leaders to begin featuring a mid-day series of virtual professional development events. This will help our members stay connected and continue building on those shared strengths and knowledge base that helps promote student success.
We’re equally focused on finalizing the details for our 40th Annual VCCA conference for 2024 and we look forward to publishing that information soon.”
Learn more at: https://sites.google.com/a/email.vccs.edu/vcca/
