VSU In the News

Two Virginia State University alumni, Mrs. Ann C. Taylor and Lt. Gen. Dennis L. Via, will serve as Grand Marshals for VSU’s Homecoming Parade on Saturday Oct., 31. The parade begins at 9 a.m. and journeys from downtown Petersburg to the VSU campus.

Taylor, class of 1956, is Chair of the board of directors for the Cameron Foundation. She is a retired guidance coordinator and counselor from Matoaca High School in Chesterfield County and has been a teacher, administrator, and consultant. Taylor currently serves the community in several capacities, including Vice Chair of the Petersburg Library Foundation Board and on the boards of directors of the Southside Virginia Emergency Crew, United Way Southside Leadership Council, United Campus Ministry at VSU, Richard Bland College Foundation and the Ivy Community Foundation. Taylor, wife of Dr. Porcher L Taylor, the 2007 VSU Alumnus of the Year, also spends her time working with area youth and supporting the underserved. She also received a Master’s Degree from VSU and studied at University of South Carolina, University of Georgia and University of Seoul, Korea.

Lt. Gen. Via is Director of Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems Directorate for the Joint Staff of the United States Army. He graduated from VSU in 1980 as a Distinguished Military Graduate, and later began his career with the 35^th Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC. He has served in several leadership capacities, including Director of Global Operations for the Defense Information Systems Agency and Division Chief for the Joint Requirements Oversight Council Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff. He holds a Master’s Degree from Boston University and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College.