Thomas Jefferson Award | Virginia L. McLaughlin '71
Virginia L. McLaughlin, your service and influence upon the field of education, the university and the community have few parallels. Your 38-year career at William & Mary has been distinguished by authentic and transformative leadership, generous mentorship and selfless service.
As the first woman dean of the William & Mary School of Education, you spearheaded the construction of a beautiful and enduring home for our students, faculty, staff, programs and projects in education, and you ushered in a new era of prominence and influence for the school.
Generations of students and colleagues have benefited from your patient wisdom and steady encouragement. From your days as a teacher-leader in special education classrooms, to your service as chief of staff to President Emeritus Timothy J. Sullivan ’66, through your 18 years as dean of the School of Education, to now, as a deeply respected teacher and colleague, you have helped shape the careers of countless leaders in the education profession and beyond.
You have been a compelling voice in the field of education, forging collaborative partnerships across the university, state and nation. Your leadership helped unite the work of universities and K-12 schools, establishing William & Mary as a willing partner and trusted voice for practitioners and policymakers throughout the commonwealth. Appointed by then-Governor Timothy Kaine to the State Board of Education in Virginia, you were the first sitting dean of a school of education to serve in this influential role. You have been a passionate advocate for equity and a catalyst for change, expanding diversity within the faculty, championing women in education and advocating for inclusion practices in special education.
Over the course of your long tenure at William & Mary, your service has influenced nearly every corner of the university. From strategic planning, capital campaigns and accreditation to special task forces and standing committees, you have been an integral hand in shaping the character and trajectory of the institution.
Beyond the walls of William & Mary, you have been entrusted with leadership positions within education’s most esteemed organizations and honored with some of the most coveted recognitions awarded by the profession. You have also found time to be a selfless and dedicated contributor in the local community, serving on numerous committees and boards devoted to improving educational and health outcomes for children and families in the greater Williamsburg area.
It is our pleasure on behalf of William & Mary to honor you today with the 2021 Thomas Jefferson Award.
