The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce that Dr. Betty Jo Foster, Interim President of Danville Community College (DCC), has joined IALR’s board of trustees. 
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Betty Jo Foster back to our board of trustees and look forward to her direction and keen insight, especially as it relates to education, talent development and business initiatives,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director at IALR. “Her valuable experience and deep knowledge of our area’s challenges and opportunities will positively impact our efforts to drive economic transformation throughout Southern Virginia.”
Foster began her career at DCC in 1971 as an Instructor and taught in the Office Systems Technology program for 19 years. She then became the Director of the Center for Business, Industry and Government and later served as Director of Continuing Education and as Vice President of Academic and Student Services. During her tenure at DCC, she also served as the Interim President of Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Va.
After her retirement from DCC in 2006, Foster continued to work for DCC as an adjunct professor. She served as the Interim President and CEO of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce in 2017-2018.
Foster received her bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Radford University, her master’s degree in Vocational Technical Education from Virginia Tech and her doctorate in Educational Administration from NOVA University. In addition, she graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Institute for the Management of Lifelong Learning) and is certified as an Achieve Global Trainer and a Customer Service Trainer. Over the years, she has conducted numerous seminars and workshops for business and industry.
Foster has taken leadership roles in numerous organizations, including a board position for Smart Beginnings, the past chair of IALR’s board of trustees and the past chair of the Danville Regional Medical Center (now Sovah Health) board of directors. She also served on the Danville Regional Foundation’s board of directors, actively participated in Riverview Rotary and was a charter member of Leadership Pittsylvania County.
IALR is governed by a 15-member board of trustees consisting of the presidents or their designees of Averett University, Danville Community College and Virginia Tech; the chairman or his designee of the board of the Future of the Piedmont Foundation; one resident of the City of Danville to be appointed by the Danville City Council; one resident of Pittsylvania County to be appointed by the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors; and nine citizens representing business and industry and residing in Southside Virginia, three to be appointed by the governor, three to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and three to be appointed by the speaker of the House of Delegates.
