The Honorable Martha Mugler was appointed to the Board of Visitors on July 1, 2026 by Governor Abigail Spanberger. A native of Hampton, Martha attended public schools in Hampton and Poquoson before earning a bachelor’s in communications from Radford University in Southwest Virginia.
Martha’s professional experience has included work in higher education, community & public relations, and banking. Mugler works for TowneBank in Strategic Planning. She served on the Hampton School Board, first elected in 2008. Seeking to provide the best possible education for the children of Hampton, Martha served on the school board for twelve years and was Chair of the Board for four years.
During her time on the school board, Martha was active at both the state and local levels, serving on boards and committees including:
- Virginia School Board Association’s Legislative Positions Committee
- WHRO Hampton Roads Telecommunications Association Educational Advisory Committee
- Council for Urban Education
- National School Board Association
Martha is deeply committed to her community. She has been recognized by the Barrett-Peake Foundation for her contributions to the Peninsula, the Hampton Arts Foundation Coastal Virginia Renaissance Award for contributions to the local arts community, and by the Coalition of Justice for Civil Rights for outstanding service to the community. Governor Terry McAuliffe also appointed Mugler to the Virginia 529/AbleNow Board (Virginia College Savings Plan) in 2017.
Martha has been active with numerous local organizations including:
- Hampton Arts Foundation Board
- The Woman’s Club of Hampton, Inc.
- Downtown Hampton Child Development Center Board
- Historical Foundation of Aberdeen Gardens Board
- PTA
- First Presbyterian Church
- Sunday School Teacher at First Presbyterian Church in Hampton
- No Kid Hungry
- Junior Woman’s Club of Hampton, Inc
- Junior League of Hampton Roads
Martha was elected to represent the 91st District in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2019. While serving, Mugler carried legislation that resulted in a 5% pay increase for Virginia teachers for two years in a row. She also served as patron to legislation for student driver safety, designated outdoor refreshment area licenses, and the development of the Virginia Division of Offshore Wind. In 2020, Mugler was recognized by the Virginia Education Association as Rookie Legislator of the Year.
During her legislative tenure in the Virginia House of Delegates, Mugler was assigned to the Education Committee, Finance Committee, and the Counties Cities and Towns Committee. Martha was appointed to and served on the following boards and commissions:
- Fort Monroe Authority
- Go Virginia (Virginia Initiative for Growth & Opportunity)
- The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Advisory Committee
- The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission
- Southern States Energy Board
- Chairman of the Virginia Arts Caucus
- The Commonwealth Caucus
- The SLC Education Committee
Mugler currently serves on Hampton City Council and is committed to youth and young adult opportunities, violence prevention, and gun violence prevention. Initiatives she has supported include coastal resiliency and living with water projects, the Arts, economic development, and addressing homelessness. In addition, she was a Virginia Senate appointee to the Joint Subcommittee on Pandemic Response and Preparedness.
Martha serves as the Vice Chair of the Hampton Planning Commission, Secretary of the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority Board, sits on the Clean City Commission, the Arts Commission, the Hampton Finance Committee, and is a Finance Committee member of the Virginia Municipal League.
Martha is married to Ross A. Mugler. She is the proud mother of three and Granmommie to three super grandchildren!!,