Meet our Newest NOVA Educational Foundation Board Members

The NOVA Educational Foundation (NOVA Foundation) is proud to announce the appointment of six (6) new Board members, effective October 30, 2019. The NOVA Foundation, through its donors, funds more than 350 scholarships, emergency aid and a range of academic programs and student services throughout the College’s six campuses and NOVA Online.

Founded in 1979, the NOVA Foundation is dedicated to supporting Northern Virginia Community College’s (NVCC) goal of providing all students with a high-quality, life-changing education. By connecting donors to NOVA programs, the Foundation raises funds, increases visibility and strengthens partnerships among the College, individual donors, businesses and state and local communities.

“I am thrilled to welcome our new Board members who bring a depth and breadth of talent to guide us as we work to increase the Foundation’s impact on our students, the College and our community,” said Kelly Persons, Executive Director, NOVA Foundation.

New Board members include:

Debi Alexander is Director of Development and Communications for PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families. Debi has also served as the Executive Director of a non-profit therapeutic riding center, in local and federal government and at a trade association. Named one of the 2013 Northern Virginians of the Year, Debi serves in many capacities advancing community interests in the Greater Washington area. 

Kathleen M. Flaherty is currently a Principal at Matthews, Carter and Boyce. She has extensive experience in providing auditing, accounting and consulting services to a broad range of clients for over thirty years. She helps organizations comply with regulatory obligations, improve financial performance, manage risk and streamline business processes. 

Michael Forehand serves as Vice President of Government and Community Affairs for Inova Health System, Northern Virginia’s leading non-profit healthcare provider, employing more than 18,000 team members and serving more than 2 million individuals annually. He is responsible for government relations and advocacy at the local, state and federal levels and managing Inova’s community engagement across Northern Virginia.

James Hannah is GDIT’s chief information officer and vice president of enterprise IT services, reporting to Global CIO Kristie Grinnell. He oversees the delivery of critical business systems, architecture, engineering, and operations for all GDIT corporate IT services. James previously served as GDIT’s deputy CIO and vice president, and has held senior roles in the financial services, healthcare, and defense industries. 

Julia Lafferty is a Principal with Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, P.S. (CBM). She has over 28 years of accounting and auditing experience, with concentrations in not-for-profit organizations and audits of employee benefit plans. She spent the first 15 years of her career with a Big Four accounting firm where she audited organizations in a variety of industries. She then spent 10 years with a regional firm specializing in not-for-profit organizations.

Thomas W. Minnick is the chairman and founder of ncgCARE. Celebrating 26 years of providing behavioral health care services throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, ncgCARE and its provider partners have become a trusted name in the provision of mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services. Additional information about the NOVA Foundation can be found at: https://www.nvcc.edu/foundation/