The Alumni Association installed the following eight new members on its 35-member board of directors in June:

Jeffrey W. Ainslie ’83, of Virginia Beach, earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is president of Ainslie Widener Inc., a residential home building business based in Virginia Beach. His professional and civic involvement includes work with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Hampton Roads, the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board. Ainslie was appointed to a three-year term.

L. Avonne Curry ’88, of Alexandria, Va., is an actively involved alumna, having participated in the Black Alumni Council, the mentoring program and the Alumni Association Legislative Committee. Curry, who earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, is president of her own small business, Destiny’s Dream, which provides Christian entertainment and motivational speakers. She was appointed to a one-year term.

Sherry D. Gilson ’71 (M.P.A. ’84), of Virginia Beach, is returning to the alumni board, on which she served in the 1980s. Now retired, Gilson is an active volunteer in the Hampton Roads community. Her activities include reading to the blind at WHRO and facilitating conversation groups with English speakers of other languages at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center. She was appointed to a four-year term.

Teya M. Hartwell ’95, of Hampton, earned her degree in business administration with an emphasis in information systems. Since graduation, she has been actively involved in giving back
to her alma mater through the Black Alumni Council, where she has served as a member of the Executive Committee. Hartwell has a one-year presidential appointment to the board.

Tara F. Saunders ’85 (M.B.A. ’92), of Norfolk, is the assistant director for the City of Portsmouth’s Department of Economic Development. As an alumna, Saunders has served on
the Executive Committee of the Hoops Club, a booster organization supporting the men’s basketball program. She was appointed to a four-year term.

Rhonda Skaggs (M.S.Ed. ’75), of Virginia Beach, is the principal at Kempsville Elementary School in Virginia Beach. As an alumna, she has been an active volunteer, participating in activities such as handing out “Keys to the Kingdom” to graduates at the Darden College of Education commencement ceremony. Skaggs was appointed to a one-year term.

Charles C. Trotter ’94, of Richmond, Va., has long been an active member of the Black Alumni Council, for which he designed and maintains its new Web site, www.bac-odu.com. Trotter, who earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, is a principal consultant for the information technology Web solutions team at Keane Inc. He was appointed to a four-year term.

Rosemary C. Wilson ’74, of Virginia Beach, earned her degree in elementary education. Currently a member of the Virginia Beach City Council, Wilson has long played a role in educating youth. In addition to several years as an elementary school teacher in York County and Virginia Beach, she served on the Virginia Beach School Board for four years, including one year as vice chair. Wilson was appointed to a four-year term.