Dr. Keisha Samuels, Human Services program chair at Virginia Peninsula Community College, has been appointed to the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors by Governor Abigail Spanberger. The governor announced statewide board appointments across various sectors in late August.
Samuels’ four-year term is underway and will last through 2030. The 13-member board appoints and evaluates the university president; guides governance and policy; and provides financial stewardship of state appropriations while setting tuition and mandatory fees. It also oversees compliance with state and federal laws.
This appointment is especially poignant. Norfolk State University is Samuels’ alma mater, and she’s a fierce supporter as a lifetime member of the alumni association.
“My very first reaction: I screamed in my hands,” she said of hearing the news. “I had literally just pressed the button for my season tickets for football, and I got the announcement … then I cried.
“It’s such a full circle moment when I think about that 18-year-old girl who had never been to Norfolk until I got accepted to Norfolk State, and went there for a summer bridge program,” she said.
For Samuels, it’s loyalty that runs deep. She recalled the university’s School of Social Work saw her through the difficulty of her mom’s passing during her sophomore year. The support and encouragement helped her remain in school. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work and two master’s degrees (one in counseling from NSU and another in curriculum development and instruction from Old Dominion University). She also completed a doctoral degree in leadership and professional practice from Trevecca Nazarene University.
“I will forever be grateful for the School of Social Work, Norfolk State, and what it means to me personally,” said Samuels, who established a long career in human services and higher education while distinguishing herself as a community leader.
The lifelong Hampton resident admits the opportunity to serve students and fellow educators in this capacity is exciting. A VPCC faculty member since 2013, she said her experience in curriculum, student success, academic leadership and higher education policy will inform her work on the board.
“I am excited about being an advocate for the university that truly helped me become the woman that I am today … the professional that I am today,” she said, stressing the value of having a social worker at the board table.
“There are certain skills that we bring as social workers: problem-solvers, being very logical in our thinking, being very fair, being very appropriate with the things that matter,” she added.
Samuels hopes not only to advocate for students to ensure their success but also to support the university’s leadership and contribute to continued enrollment growth.
This latest appointment expands her wide-ranging civic affiliations and memberships. These include the National Black Child Development Institute (charter member) and selection to the City of Hampton’s Grievance Board through 2029. Additionally, Samuels chairs the Hampton Roads Educators Credit Union board of directors’ succession planning committee, serves as a grievance officer for the Virginia Board of Education and is a planning commissioner for the City of Hampton. She also contributes her expertise as a hearing officer for school divisions statewide.
A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and CHUMS, Inc., Samuels shares a passion for civic engagement with her husband, Jason, who serves on the Hampton School Board. They are the proud parents of two.
In addition to Samuels, others with connections to VPCC are among the governor’s new appointees:
- Dr. Donna Woods (College Board member) – State Board for Community Colleges
- Dr. Alvin J. Schexnider (former VPCC president) – State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
- McKinley Price (former College Board member) – Virginia Growth & Opportunity Board
They comprise more than 120 individuals the governor appointed. In an Aug. 28 announcement, Spanberger stated:
“I have full faith that Virginia will be better off with these members of our communities taking leadership roles as we continue to make our home stronger, safer, and more affordable for every family.”
