By Jim Babb
The VCCS State Board has awarded the system’s highest honor to three senior community college leaders who are retiring this spring after
long and distinguished service. Seen here, left to right, Bill Price, Sheri Robertson and Robert “Bert” Jones have put in a combined 124 years of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia, most of it devoted to improving the experience of people who learn and work at our colleges. On May 17, each received the Dana B. Hamel Award for Leadership in Service to the Mission of Virginia’s Community Colleges.
“The people of Virginia, our students, faculty, and staff owe a debt of gratitude to these talented and dedicated individuals,” said VCCS Chancellor David Doré. “With grateful hearts, we wish them all the best in retirement.”
Price
Bill Price joined the Virginia Community College System 46 years ago this month and is the only active system office employee who can say that he served under every VCCS Chancellor.
As the system’s most senior capital outlay program manager, Price has managed construction and renovation projects at every community college, traveling extensively to every campus in the System. His last day in the office will be June 28.
Robertson
Dr. Sheri Robertson joined Northern Virginia Community College as a faculty member in 1982 and served NOVA for 39 years, including nearly 25 years as the college’s Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Her leadership of the faculty-driven transfer initiative that led to the groundbreaking NOVA/GMU ADVANCE program will be one of her many lasting legacies. In three years at the VCCS System Office, Robertson has made substantial contributions to the improvement of statewide academic policy. Her last day on the job as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy & Instructional Support Services will be May 31.
With Robertson’s retirement, VCCS’s Director of Transfer, Dr. Micol Hutchison will serve as VCCS interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy & Instructional Support Services.
Jones, center, and friends at the Prostate Cancer Awareness Invitational Golf Tournament in Sept. 2021.
Bert Jones is a proud graduate of Southside Virginia Community College and began his state service in 1988 as an architect with the Virginia Department of Corrections. In 2008 he was appointed Director of the State Division of Engineering and Buildings, the chief building official for all state agencies. Joining the VCCS as Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management in 2012, Jones has overseen almost 300 construction and renovation projects valued at more than $1 billion. He also led the VCCS in implementation of Level II delegated authority for capital outlay and oversaw the relocation of the System Office to its current location at Richmond’s Arboretum office park.
In addition to his state service, Jones has been a tireless advocate for public health. Jones founded the Prostate Cancer Educational Institute of Virginia and organizes an annual golf tournament to raise funds and public awareness of the cause. His last day in the office at the VCCS will be June 28.
Veteran design architect Stephen L’Heureux has been selected as the next Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management for the Virgnia Community College System.