Linda Lipford Forehand

Ms. Linda Lipford Forehand was appointed to the Board of Visitors July 1, 2008.  She currently serves as Secretary of the Board, as a member of the Executive and Academic and Research Advancement Committees, and as Vice Chair of the Institutional Advancement Committee.

Linda is the Senior Associate Director of Philanthropy for The Nature Conservancy, the largest environmental non-profit in the world.  The Conservancy is located in 50 states and 32 countries.  Linda’s focus is on raising major gifts for conservation projects in Virginia.  Her territory extends from Hampton Roads to the Eastern Shore, Williamsburg, Northern Neck and Richmond.  Linda joined The Nature Conservancy in 2002 and founded, organized, and directed The Nature Conservancy Golf Classic which raised more than $500,000 in unrestricted gifts from 2002-2007.  She also assisted in the successful completion of TNC’s $52 Million Wild Virginia Campaign. 

Linda is also a founding Director of TowneBank, and served as Chairman of the marketing committee from 1999-2003.  She is also a licensed real estate agent in Virginia.

Linda graduated with honors from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth in 1975.  She attended Radford University for one year on academic and work scholarships.

Linda graduated magna cum laude from Old Dominion University in 1980 with a B.A. in political science, pre-law.  She attended ODU while working full-time as a legislative aide and paralegal to a State Senator from Portsmouth.   Linda is also a 2004 graduate of Civic Leadership Institute.

Linda was elected to the ODU Alumni Board of Directors and served on the government relations committee from 1982-86.  She is also a former member of the Board of Directors of Old Dominion University Educational Foundation Board. 

From 1976-1985 Linda was Chief of Staff and paralegal to a State Senator.  From 1985-1992, Linda was promoted to Director of Marketing and Administration for a large law firm in Portsmouth.  From 1992-93, Linda was the Director of Development for Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk.  In 1992, Linda established her own political and legal consulting business which focused on fundraising, marketing, and special events.  Her clients included the late Senator Hunter B. Andrews, former Majority Leader of the Virginia Senate, and the Virginia House and Senate Democratic Caucuses.  From 1996-2002, Linda was the Director of Major Gifts for Eastern Virginia Medical School and successfully completed the $65 Million Campaign for the Next Century.  Prior to joining The Nature Conservancy, Linda was the Director of Development for the Virginia Symphony.

Linda is Past President of the Hellenic Woman’s Club of Norfolk (founded in 1910).  She is a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Norfolk, the Hellenic Woman’s Club, Philoptochos Society, and the Cyprus Benevolent Society.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Woman’s Club and Philoptochos Society for many years.  

Linda is a former member of the Norfolk Forum Board of Directors, the Virginia Council on Economic Education Board of Directors, and the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives.
 
A Portsmouth native, Linda is married to the Honorable V. Thomas Forehand, Jr., Chief Judge of the Circuit Court in Chesapeake.  They reside in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Amherst County.