First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe will be the guest speaker for the 49th annual commencement exercises at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College on Friday, May 13. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center on the DSLCC Clifton Forge campus.
As First Lady, McAuliffe has dedicated her efforts to eliminating childhood hunger and improving access to Virginia’s fresh, locally grown agricultural products for all our citizens. She has identified food security and nutrition as key elements necessary for educational success and building healthy communities.
McAuliffe serves as chair of the Commonwealth Council on Bridging the Nutritional Divide. The council is focused on eliminating childhood hunger in Virginia, developing local agriculture markets, and promoting community efforts that link locally grown food, education, health and nutrition.
The First Lady is committed to supporting Virginia’s active-duty military and their families. She has made it a top priority to ensure that Virginia provides the most effective supports available in addressing the unique concerns of our service men and women and their families.
Having served as a community volunteer over many years, McAuliffe recognizes the power of engagement. Under her leadership, Virginia is leading the way to encourage and elevate national service as a pathway for solving challenges in local communities, deepening appreciation for citizenship, and developing valuable workforce training opportunities.
McAuliffe has long been devoted to the arts and education. She has served on the Boards of Trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institution. She is honored by the opportunity to use her platform as First Lady to help promote the unique historical, cultural and art treasures of the Commonwealth for both tourism and educational purposes.
The First Lady is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, with a B.A. in Political Science, and received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a member of the Journal of Law and Policy in International business. She practiced banking and securities law for several years in Virginia. She and the Governor are the proud parents of five children.