BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has 15 members. three legislative members, nine non-legislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, and three ex officio members: the Commissioner of Health or their designee, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System or their designee, and the Director of the Department of Health Professions or their designee.
Executive Committee
The Honorable Rodney Willett
Acting Chair; Delegate, 73rd District Virginia House of Delegates
Shelly Smith, DNP, APRN-BC, FNAP
Secretary; Associate Professor of Nursing And Public Policy, Advanced Practice Program Sub-Director for MSN Program
University of Virginia
Vanessa Walker Harris, MD
Treasurer; Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Members of the Board
David Abraham
President & Chief Executive Officer, Beth Sholom Village
Shanna W. Akers, EdD, MSN/MBA-HC, RN, CNE, NEA-BC
Provost and Executive VP of Academic Affairs, Covenant Journey Academy. Commissioner for Nursing Education, Virginia Nurses Association
Sharon Alexander
Director of Workforce Initiative, Virginia Hospital and Health Care Association
Karen Faison, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Virginia State University
Alexis Gerdes
Executive Neuroscience Sales Specialist, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Jesse Goodrich
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Riverside Medical System
The Honorable Keith Hodges
Delegate, 98th District, Virginia House of Delegates
Arne W. Owens
Director, Department of Health Professions
Philmika W. Reid, M.Ed
Director, Healthcare Workforce and Community Engagement, Virginia Community College System
Shannon Showalter
Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Ballad Health
Brian Yates
Dean of the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success, Liberty University
