RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced additional appointments to his Administration today.
Office of the Chief Workforce Development Advisor
Jane Dittmar, Deputy Chief Workforce Development Advisor
Jane Dittmar has been appointed Deputy Chief Workforce Development Advisor to the Governor. She has served as Senior Special Assistant to the Chief Workforce Development Advisor since March 2019. Prior to joining the Northam administration, Jane served as Chief of Staff for Delegate David Toscano. Previously, Jane chaired the Albemarle Board of Supervisors and is a founding Partner at Positive Solutions Group, a professional mediation firm. Jane was educated at the University of Virginia where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and at Virginia Tech where she earned a graduate certificate through the Center for Public Administration and Policy. She also maintains her certification through the Supreme Court of Virginia to practice mediation in both the Circuit and General District Courts in Virginia.
Secretariat of Health and Human Resources
Karen Kimsey, Director, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
Karen Kimsey has been appointed Director of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). Karen is an accomplished executive with over 24 years of public service with the state Medicaid program. Prior to her appointment, Karen served as Chief Deputy and Deputy Director of Complex Care and Services for DMAS. She led the successful development and launch of the new Medicaid Expansion benefit for low-income adults and the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus program, the creation of a new addiction and treatment benefit for individuals with substance use disorders, the redesign and implementation of the system that serves individuals with developmental disabilities, and the launch of the Governor’s Access Plan to serve individuals with serious mental illness. Karen was awarded the Governor’s Agency Star Award by Governor McAuliffe in 2017. Karen holds Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees as well as a Certificate in Aging Studies.
Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Kemba Smith Pradia, Virginia Parole Board
Kemba Smith Pradia has been appointed to the Virginia Parole Board. Prior to her appointment, she held the position of State Advocacy Campaigns Director with the ACLU of Virginia. Kemba has been a national advocate and consultant in the criminal justice arena for over 20 years. She has worked with senior officials at The White House, the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and Members of Congress, and has led trainings for federal and state probation organizations across the country. She has served on the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission since 2015. Kemba graduated from Virginia Union University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and is a native of Richmond.
Lashawnda Singleton, Confidential Assistant, Virginia Department of Corrections
Lashawnda Singleton has been appointed Confidential Assistant at the Virginia Department of Corrections. She has served as Community Relations Specialist for the Restoration of Rights Division in the Secretariat of the Commonwealth since July 2015, first appointed by Governor McAuliffe and reappointed by Governor Northam in February 2018. She has previously worked with the Offender Aid and Restoration Organization of Richmond as a Re-Entry Program Facilitator at the Henrico County Jail and Pamunkey Regional Jail. Lashawnda received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Secretariat of the Commonwealth
Board Appointments
Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Prevention
- Lena “Shelly” Baker-Scott* of Suffolk, CEO, Agape Counseling and Therapeutic Services, Inc.
- Marilyn G. Brown, MSW* of Henrico, Director, Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home
- Ngan Bui of Richmond, Class of 2023, University of Richmond
- David Johnson* of Henrico, Executive Director, Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
- Julie E. McConnell* of Henrico, Director, Children’s Defense Clinic, University of Richmond School of Law
- Samuel Perez* of Manassas, Grassroots Strategist, Prison Fellowship
- Paul Taylor of Richmond, Taylor Paul Taylor LLC, RVA League for Safer Streets, S.A.N.I.T.Y
- The Honorable Lawrence H. Webb* of Falls Church, Member, Falls Church City School Board
- Amy Woolard* of Charlottesville, Attorney and Policy Coordinator, Legal Aid Justice Center
Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence
- Kathleen Anderson* of Fredericksburg, Executive Director, Empowerhouse Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence
- Teresa Berry LPC, LMFT, LMT* of Hardy, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Roanoke
- Autumn L. Jones* of Arlington, Victim/Witness Program Director, Arlington County and City of Falls Church Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
- Warren Rodgers* of Patrick Springs, Executive Director, Southside Survivor Response Center, Inc.
- Mindy Stell* of Dinwiddie, Director, Victim/Witness Assistance Program
- Toni Zolicoffer of Fairfax, Division Director, Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Fairfax County Department of Family Services
Board of Juvenile Justice
- Dana Schrad* of Glen Allen, Executive Director, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and Foundation, Inc.
- The Honorable Gregory Underwood of Norfolk, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney
- Dr. Jennifer Woolard* of Bristow, Associate Professor of Psychology, Georgetown University
Board of Social Work
- The Honorable Angelia N. Allen* of Portsmouth, Portsmouth City School Board and Member, Healthcare Professionals
- Jamie Clancey* of Culpeper, Care Coordinator, Anthem Healthkeepers Plus
Board of Trustees of the A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Genedge Alliance)
- Dr. Tiffany M. Franks* of Danville, President, Averett University
Citizens’ Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion
- Siobhan Gilbride Deeds of Lexington, Small Business Owner
Data Sharing and Analytics Advisory Committee
- Arlyn Burgess* of Charlottesville, Associate Director, Data Science Institute, University of Virginia
- Josh Levi* of Leesburg, Consultant, Northern Virginia Technology Council
Employment Service Organization Steering Committee
- James Fenerty of Henrico, Patient Access Representative, Bon Secours Health System
- Alan Hargraves of Richmond, Executive Director, Hargraves Outreach, Inc.
Milk Commission
- Rodrigo Velasquez* of Springfield, Legislative Aide, Virginia House of Delegates
Research and Technology Investment Advisory Committee
- Scott Tolleson of Richmond
Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority
- Michael Karmis of Blacksburg, Professor and Director, Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, Virginia Tech
- Brad Kreps of Abingdon, Clinch Valley Program Director, The Nature Conservancy
- Lydia Sinemus of Bristol, Corporate Director, Human Resources and Environmental Health and Safety, Strongwell Corporation
- Kristen Westover of Dryden, President, Mountain Empire Community College
State Water Control Board
- Karen T. Campblin of Fairfax, Founder, ktcPLAN, LLC
- Heather Wood* of Norfolk, Regional Director, Ports and Intermodal, Dewberry
Virginia Commission for the Arts
- Robert Goudie of Reston, Executive Director, Reston Town Center Association and Board Chair, Greater Reston Arts Center
- Dr. Verdena R. Jennings of Nasons, Executive Director, Imani Works Corporation
- Michael T. Markley of Remington, Chairman, Fauquier Community Theatre
- Sushmita Mazumdar of Arlington, Artist, Writer, and Educator
- Jan P. Monroe, MS Ed CCC-SLP of Fredericksburg, President and Acting Executive Director, STEP VA, Inc.
- Barbara Parker of Collinsville, Director, For Alison Foundation
- Amanda Pillion of Abingdon
- David Trinkle, M.D.* of Roanoke, Associate Dean for Community and Culture, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
*denotes reappointment
Full Release
