VCUarts alumna Rachel Strawn (B.F.A.’98) has been selected as the National Association of Social Workers-Virginia Chapter Citizen of the Year. Strawn has served as the Director for Great Expectations, an initiative of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Great Expectations currently serves over 1,500 Virginia foster youth at 18 of Virginia’s 23 community colleges through a one-on-one, professional coaching model.
Under Strawn’s strategic leadership, Great Expectations has expanded to Thomas Nelson Community College, launched a student leadership program and established performance outcomes that align with VCCS goals, specifically pertaining to student success data and outcomes. She builds and maintains strong community partnerships, relationships with internal and external stakeholders and is an excellent consensus-builder. Strawn is a steadfast supporter of youth and a lifelong learner, having completed her Ph.D. in Educational, Policy, Planning and Leadership in Higher Education Administration at the College of William & Mary in 2014. Previously, Strawn taught with Williamsburg-James City County Schools where she served as a mentor to at-risk students and later taught English as a Second Language to adult immigrants in Gloucester County, VA.
Image from William and Mary School of Education
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