Governance

Dr. Michael Eric Wooten

Chair

michael.wooten@vccs.edu

Dr. 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.

Term of service began July 20, 2022, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Mark J. Hourigan

Vice-chair

Mark Hourigan of Richmond 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.

Term of service began July 1, 2023, Appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

David Elmore 

david.elmore@vccs.edu

David Elmore of Waynesboro 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.

Term of service began July 1, 2024; appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Dr. Sasha Gong 

Sasha Gong of Falls Church 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.

Term of service began July 1, 2023, Appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Jeffrey V. Haley

Jeff Haley of Danville 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 Management. 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.

Term of service began Jan. 12, 2024, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Wiley Johnson 

Wiley “Bif” Johnson of Amherst 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.

Term of service began July 1, 2023, Appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Bruce Meyer

bruce.meyer@vccs.edu

Bruce Meyer of Virginia Beach has deep experience on the State Board for Community Colleges, having served terms 2001-2004 (appointed by Governor Jim Gilmore), and 2010-2014 (appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell). During his latter term, Meyer served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the VCCS State Board.  He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for Tidewater Community College.

He is Founder and President of Meyer Group Insurance (MGI), a full-spectrum insurance brokerage firm, headquartered in Virginia Beach, specializing in Employee Benefits Solutions and Executive Benefits in Hampton Roads as well as throughout the United States.

Recognized as a leader in his industry, Meyer is often called upon at the state and federal level for his knowledge of insurance matters. Meyer and his wife, Connie, publish Hampton Roads Weekly (HRW), a community newspaper which focuses on community news, business, culture, politics, lifestyle and entertainment.

He is a past chairman of Prevent Child Abuse Hampton Roads and was awarded Citizen Advocate of the Year for the Commonwealth of VA.  He was Founder and Chairman of the Republican Professionals Network (RPN) of Hampton Roads.

Term of service began July 1, 2022, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Anthony “Tony” Miller

tony.miller@vccs.edu

Anthony “Tony” Miller of Damascus 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.

Term of service began July 1, 2024, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Alethea “AJ” Robinson

AJRobinson@vccs.edu

Alethea “AJ” Robinson of Bluefield is an accomplished public affairs and communications executive, currently serving as the Director of Communications and Tourism for Tazewell County, Virginia. In this leadership role, she directs comprehensive strategies spanning public relations, destination marketing, community development, outdoor recreation, and media relations—each focused on driving economic growth and elevating the region’s profile across the Commonwealth and beyond.

With extensive experience in the United States Senate, AJ brings a deep understanding of federal policy, constituent engagement, and high-level governmental operations. Her expertise in strategic communications, public-private partnerships, and place-based development has positioned her as a trusted leader throughout Southwest Virginia.

AJ’s dedication to public service and regional transformation is reflected in her extensive board leadership. She currently serves on the State Board for Virginia Tourism, the Endless Opportunities (EO) Board, the Appalachian School of Law Board of Directors, the Southwest Virginia Community College Educational Foundation Board, the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority, and The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, where she serves as vice chair. Previously, she was appointed to the Radford University Board of Visitors, contributing to the university’s long-term strategic planning and advancement.

AJ takes a collaborative, community-centered approach to her work and is committed to strengthening rural communities through education, culture, and responsible growth. She resides in Bluefield, Virginia, with her husband, Erik, and their twins, Ava Sophia and Dalton.

Term of service began Jan. 12, 2024, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin. Reappointed by Gov. Youngkin for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2024.

Jeremy Satterfield 

jeremy.satterfield@vccs.edu

Jeremy Satterfield of Halifax 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.

Term of service began July 1, 2024, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Christine Woodall Thompson

Christine Woodall Thompson of Virginia Beach is a dedicated educator and behavioral specialist with over a decade of experience in higher education and public school instruction. She has served as a Professor at Tidewater Community College for ten years, where she taught and supported English language learners through dynamic, student-centered instruction. In addition, she worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher within the public school system, where she brought cultural sensitivity and academic rigor to her classrooms.

Thompson also has a strong background in behavioral therapy, practicing as a therapist in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), with a focus on individualized support for children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral needs.

She earned her undergraduate degree and teaching licensure from Virginia Wesleyan College and holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics from Old Dominion University. Thompson also serves on the Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion.

Term of service began July 1, 2025, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Terri Thompson

terri.thompson@vccs.edu

Terri Thompson of Chesapeake is a seasoned member of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) State Board, where she has served with distinction as both Vice Chair and Chair.

A veteran in the financial services industry, Ms. Thompson is a consultant specializing in insurance, financial services, and estate planning. She holds the professional designations of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).

Ms. Thompson enjoyed a 30-year career with State Farm Insurance Companies, where she held a variety of leadership positions, including Property Claims Manager, Human Resources Manager, and Marketing Manager, before retiring in 2018.

Her commitment to public service includes previous roles on the Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Board, where she served two terms as Chairwoman, and on the Tidewater Community College Board, also serving two terms as Chairwoman. She is a 2011 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.

Ms. Thompson was first appointed to the VCCS State Board by Governor Ralph Northam in October 2019 and reappointed by him in 2021. She was subsequently reappointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to a four-year term beginning July 1, 2025.

Brett Vassey

Brett Vassey of Chesterfield is the President & CEO of the Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA), the statewide association dedicated to the Commonwealth’s manufacturers, manufacturing employees, and the sector’s allies.

Vassey has served on numerous federal, state, and business boards and councils, including; Former Chairman and current board member of the Consumer Energy Alliance; the Virginia Manufacturing Development Commission; Chairman of the Southern Manufacturing Council; the Conference of State Manufacturers Associations; the ACC Chemical Industry Council; the US Global Leadership Coalition’s Virginia Advisory Committee; the Virginia Board of Workforce Development; and the Mid-Atlantic Region Minority Business Development Agency – Baltimore Advanced Manufacturing Center – Advisory Board.

Prior to the VMA, Vassey held positions in public policy, economic development, and college administration in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Kansas, and Missouri. Vassey has a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy. He is a member of the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration, Pi Alpha Alpha, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kansas.

Vassey was listed in the 2020 Virginia Business 500 Power List and selected for the CEO Today USA Awards in 2019. He is married and has a son.

Term of service began July 1, 2025, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Joan Wodiska

Joan Wodiska of Falls Church is the proud daughter of a university professor and teacher and has served 20+ years in public education roles in Virginia. Previously, she served five statewide appointed positions (three republican and two democratic), including as Vice President of the Virginia State Board of Education. She also served as Chair of the Education Committee – Task Force on Local Mandates on Government; Commissioner for the Education Commission of the States; Member Commonwealth Council to Bridge the Nutritional Divide; and Chair of the College Partnership Laboratory Committee.

Prior to statewide service, Mrs. Wodiska served nine years as a local school board member, serving as Chair and Vice Chair. She was also elected by her peers to serve as President of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA). In recognition of her long-standing public service to students and families, she was named the Virginia PTA Child Advocate of the Year (2017).

Mrs. Wodiska serves on the Board of Directors for the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), serving 49 states and more than 2,400 college and universities in the United States, including Virginia.

Mrs. Wodiska also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), College of Arts & Sciences. In addition, she serves as Vice Chair for the Board of Directors for the Virginia Space Flight Academy.

Professionally, Mrs. Wodiska served as a senior leader at the bipartisan National Governors Association (NGA) and National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Mrs. Wodiska graduated with a double major in Economics and Political Science from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and an MA in political management from George Washington University in Washington DC. She was also an Economic Policy Scholar at American University, Washington DC.

Term of service began July 1, 2025; appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Michel Zajur 

Michel Zajur of Midlothian currently serves as president and CEO of The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held for more than two decades.

Zajur immigrated to the United States from Mexico City with his family in the early 1960’s when he was just a child. He was taught the value of hard work by working in his family’s restaurant, La Siesta Mexican Restaurant. La Siesta quickly became a staple in Richmond and remained in business for over thirty years.

Zajur has received numerous awards throughout his career which include: the National Conference of Community Justices Humanitarian Award in 2002, the Minority Small Business Champion Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2006, and the Global Excellence Award from the Virginia International Business Council in 2011. In 2012, Zajur received the Ohtli Award which is the highest award bestowed by the Mexican government upon a non-Mexican citizen.

Zajur was recognized as “One of the 25 People You Need to Know in the State” by Virginia Business Magazine, and was acknowledged as one of Richmond’s most influential and inspiring people by Boomer Magazine in 2012.

Zajur attended VCU’s School of Business from 1977 to 1982.

Term of service began July 1, 2023, Appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.