Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Board of Trustees of the
Purpose
The purpose of the Board of Trustees of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is to encourage the expansion of higher education, including adult and continuing education, associate degrees to be offered by Virginia Highlands Community College, undergraduate degrees to be offered by the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, and graduate degree programs, in the Southwest region of the Commonwealth, and foster partnerships between the public and private sectors to enhance higher education in the region.
Term
Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for terms of four years; legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office
Composition
The Center shall be governed by a Board of Trustees, consisting of twenty-three members as follows: four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; the Director of the Council or his designee; the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System or his designee; the chief executive officers of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Radford University, the University of Virginia, the University of Virginia's College at Wise, Old Dominion University, Emory and Henry College, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Highlands Community College or their designees; and seven non legislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor who represent Southwest Virginia public education and area business and industry, including one division superintendent, one public school teacher, two business and industry leaders, one representative of the technology industry, one representative of the tourism industry, and one representative of the healthcare industry. Non legislative citizen members of the board shall be chosen from among residents of the Southwest region of the Commonwealth and shall be citizens of the Commonwealth.
Vacant Seats
No seats are available at this time. If you are interested in joining this board in the future, please submit an application here.
Current Board Members
Mrs. Sophia Chafin Vance
Business and Industry Leader Membership expires on 6/30/2026Dr Keith S. Perrigan
Division Superintendent Membership expires on 6/30/2026April Hamby Crabtree
Representative of Business and Industry Membership expires on 6/30/2027Olivia Bailey
Member of the Tourism Industry Membership expires on 6/30/2027William Lloyd
K-12 Teacher Membership expires on 6/30/2027Susan Mayhew
Member of the Health Care Industry Membership expires on 6/30/2029