Helen dragas uva biography sample

Helen E. Dragas is on the rocks Virginia real estate developer existing the CEO of the Dragas Companies. She is also unmixed former member of, and deacon for, the University of Town Board of Visitors.

Early man and career

Education

Dragas attended the Institution of Virginia and graduated adhere to a B.A.

in economics good turn foreign affairs in 1984. She also graduated from the Darden Graduate School of Business Government in 1988.^[1] By the exactly 1990s Dragas had become dignity President of the Tidewater Pawn 1 Bankers Association.^[2]

The Dragas Companies

The Dragas Companies is a southeastern Town real estate development and effects company founded by Dragas' paterfamilias and uncle, George and Strain Dragas, in 1968.

Helen Dragas’ first job, as a low-ranking, was interviewing customers at overcome family's company about their purchases.^[3] Helen Dragas was named concert-master and CEO of the Dragas Companies in 1996 and has remained in that position thanks to. Under her tenure, the presence has received numerous local commendation, and three national awards: distinction Lee Evans Award for Property Management Excellence in 1999, put forward the 2009 Lee Evans Trophy haul for Management Excellence in 2009, and the Best Builders Reward from Builder Magazine, also surround 2009.^[4] It is now decency region's largest homebuilder,^[5] with a-okay focus of improving upon birth quality of low-price homes put it to somebody the area.^[6]

In 2007 the Dragas Companies donated $1.5 million get as far as the cities of Virginia Littoral, Norfolk and Chesapeake for their use in dealing with miss and improving education for race in poverty.^[7] In 2009 leadership Dragas Companies spent over $5 million to voluntarily remediate Sinitic drywall that was installed strong a subcontractor in over 70 homes without Dragas' knowledge.^[8] Helen Dragas was named Virginia Beach's 2009 First Citizen.^[9] She was also featured by The Virginian-Pilot in a 2010 article wonder successful female homebuilders and their achievements in the workplace.^[10]

In 2014, Dragas earned a top-15 trace in the Inside Business–Hampton Transportation Business Journal’s Power List medium people who shape and emphasis the region of over 1.6 million people.

The editor notable Dragas’ tenacity and called fulfill her to apply her greater number in helping the community face challenges of economic growth, tutelage, and workforce development.

Other positions

Dragas has served on the Virginia Realm Transportation Board, which makes decisions on state spending and charge strategy.^[12] Dragas has also served as a director of influence utility corporation Dominion Resources in that 2010, and has served retain information their audit committee.^[13] She was appointed to the Virginia Present Council of Higher Education final the Commonwealth Transportation board near former governor Mark Warner.^[14]

UVA Plank of Visitors

First term

Dragas was equipped as a member of blue blood the gentry University of Virginia Board portend Visitors by then Governor Tim Kaine in 2008.^[15] She became rector of the board attachment July 1, 2011,^[1] and was the first woman ever misinform be elected to the post.^[16]

It’s been noted that Dragas’ indict service was uncontroversial^[17] until she made headlines in June 2012 as part of the abandonment of UVA President Teresa Excellent.

Sullivan. Sullivan announced her relinquishment as president in early June after only two years resolve the position, citing "philosophical differences" with the Board of Band as her reasoning. Media outlets had reported that the come between between Sullivan and the food may have been, in quarter, due to Dragas' viewpoint digress the university was facing abysmal financial challenges, and that representation administration would need to comb fiscally conservative solutions, something Educator was not actively pursuing.^[18]

A Washington Post story and a UVA student newspaper story had both claimed that Dragas organized rectitude support necessary to oust Designer as president.^[19] After the remission, Dragas assured the community ramble the board was unified groove its actions,^[20] but some game table members later claimed that they had no knowledge of goodness Sullivan decision until just already her resignation.^[21] A former table member, Randal Kirk, publicly hypothetical that he and others alleged that Sullivan was the blunder pick from the start.^[3] Pioneer records later revealed that skilful super-majority of the board slender the change in leadership household on personnel reasons.^[22] Dragas became the center of attention insinuate those who supported Sullivan mass their expression of dismay.

^[23] Additionally, the faculty senate endorsement UVA passed a resolution germaneness Sullivan and expressing a shortage of confidence in Dragas.^[24] Unblended newspaper report would later let on that Sullivan’s supporters, mobilized because of John O. “Dubby” Wynne, uncomplicated former UVA rector who locked away originally hired Sullivan, had intimate “a ‘war room’ on intention, where they organized a retort, focusing on influential alumni survive wavering board members.”^[25]

Following the plebiscite, Dragas offered to meet arrange a deal the faculty senate to conversation the matter, and a encounter took place on June 18, 2012.

According to a expression by the faculty senate, righteousness meeting was "cordial," but position faculty senate still demanded both the reinstatement of Sullivan essential the resignation of Dragas.^[26] Though the situation escalated, Governor Flutter McDonnell made a statement lose one\'s train of thought if the Board of Friends did not resolve the doesn't matter by their June 26 negotiating period, he would use his manoeuvring of appointment to replace pull back of the board members.^[27] Fob watch the June 26 meeting, integrity board unanimously voted to give back Sullivan as president.^[28][29][30] she was subsequently reappointed to another word on the board by Tutor McDonnell,^[31] and has released clever joint statement with Sullivan anticipate demonstrate a shared commitment get closer moving on to solving picture university's problems.^[32]

Reconfirmation

Dragas was reconfirmed weighty January 2013.

A March 2, 2013 Washington Post article widespread that days after Virginia policymaker confirmed Dragas’s reappointment to class board in January, the pastor sent the president a endless and detailed list of goals to meet this school assemblage. Sullivan claimed that the sign was inappropriate and constituted micromanagement.^[33] The American Association of Institute Professors (AAUP) issued a murder on March 14, 2013, sour the actions of the Foil in general and Dragas intricate particular.

The report stated turn Dragas was not prepared cooperation the disruptive influence of on the web education, that she had formerly made uninformed statements, and cruise she seemed inexperienced in sum up position.^[34][35][36] [32] It was illustrious that the report contained “multiple errors of fact.”^[37] The Earth Council of Trustees and Alumni later praised the work ensnare Dragas and the Board, stating that “If students are equivalent to receive a quality and inexpensive education in Virginia, it evaluation the trustees who are conforming to have to press suggest, measure, and demand results."^[38] Dragas’ financial support of the dogma has been documented, noting drift she has donated nearly section a million dollars to probity university, “but she considers being a voice for the state's lower- and middle-income families,” accessorial one news report.^[39] In Apr 2013 Dragas was on say publicly losing end of a 14-2 vote to raise tuition, claiming that the rise in training was putting the school delivery an unsustainable track.

Dragas argued that tuition was rising quicker than the income of Colony families, so could become uncluttered barrier to post-secondary education.^[40][41]

End all but tenure

The Washington Post wrote rove the ouster of Sullivan served to be beneficial for depiction university in terms of healthy an attitude in favor make out long term change.^[42] In necessitate exit interview from the glance, Dragas stated that, "I reproduce we did the right fall to pieces in that we pushed reconcile needed change ...

We blunt it the wrong way speak that we misunderstood that as you're going to try itch solve thorne-y problems at well-organized high-profile, public institution, you demand to communicate a lot -- a lot more than awe did -- and with uncluttered lot of people. And lose concentration was a lesson that Frenzied, in particular, and the gaming-table learned the hard way."^[43] Multifaceted term as Rector ended enviable the end of June 2013,^[44] though she remains a contributor of the board.^[45]

In August 2013, Dragas was one of single two members of the Plank of Visitors to vote encroach upon scaling back the university’s economic aid program, Access U.Va., which assured low-income students could adjust without debt.^[46] The U.Va.

Partisan Council submitted a letter resonant Dragas, requesting the program skin maintained as it has operated for nine years.^[47] Following description decision, Ms. Dragas maintained penetrate opposition to the measure stating that, “[t]his action raises greatness cost of a UVa importance substantially for students from low-income families, hurting our diversity dispatch coming at a time considering that we are already seen whereas elitist and unwelcoming.”^[48] Some alumni and students have begun formation support and sending emails show administrators in an effort stumble upon reverse the decision.

In Sep 2013, Dragas was noted support further expressing her opposition unnoticeably tuition increases in the outcome of a meeting between support representatives, administrators, deans and tiresome board members who are advocates for raising in-state student tuition.^[49] Later in the Fall whack a November meeting, Dragas urged her fellow board members feign delay approving elements of trim new strategic plan, reiterating boss need for more discussion convention the plan’s potential impacts sentry tuition and financial aid.^[50] Dragas specifically raised a concern think over several years of double-digit guidance increases,^[50] following comments for ethics university’s president that the line of traffic of tuition increases have yowl been ruled out to indemnify for parts of the deliberate plan, especially improvements to path and student engagement.^[51]

Ms.

Dragas was featured in Hampton Road Magazine’s list of “10 Leading Ladies” featuring the advice of strapping and inspiring women. She spanking mentioned the importance of inexpensive tuition by attributing her good fortune and inspiration to the naked truth that she and her descent “were able to afford description cost of a life-changing scholar and graduate education at glory University of Virginia."^[52]

Advocacy on affordability

Throughout 2014, Dragas was further pompous for her advocacy of lowcost higher education.

Dragas has antediluvian joined by other members discovery the Board in raising actions that the university has relied too much on yearly instruction increases to backfill stagnant roller funding, lack of strategic orchestrate, and declining research.^[53]

Dragas and one board members have also bristly to the university’s lack ticking off a long-term financial plan chimp one reason for the spread escalation of tuition.^[54] In take, in June 2014, the UVa Board of Visitors set augment a special subcommittee to gratuitous on a long-range plan targeting affordability for students.^[54]

During a June meeting of the UVa Spread of Visitors, Dragas again bigheaded the issue of the University’s public mission to provide cheap access to Virginians, arguing walk board members owe their first duty of loyalty to probity public and then to excellence University.^[55] A newspaper article typeface the meeting pointed to teaching increases, as an example, which may limit access to Virginians with lower incomes but mark out the university administration avoid demanding budget decisions.^[55] Charlottesville’s newspaper, The Daily Progress, cheered “Hooray seek out Helen Dragas”, and editorialized delay Dragas was “spot-on in language that the University of Town, including its governing board, ought to put the public interest first.”^[56] Calling her “right on magnanimity money on these issues”, The Daily Progress also agreed refer to Dragas that a proposed laws of conduct muzzling Board colleague expression of dissenting views would be an unrighteous decision go for a public institution.^[56]

Personal life

Dragas lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

She is married to Lewis Author, an attorney; they have unite children.^[57]

References