Gubernatorial Candidate Terry McAuliffe completes tour of Virginia Community Colleges with visit to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

Senator Tim Kaine, McKenzie Carroll, Terry McAuliffe, William Quarles and Dr. Gary Rhodes

Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe fulfilled his pledge to visit all 23 Virginia Community Colleges with a visit to Reynolds on Friday, September 6 accompanied by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine.


Reynolds President Dr. Gary Rhodes greeted the visitors and introduced Student Ambassador McKenzie Carroll who led the group on a brief tour of the Parham Road Campus.

William Quarles, Terry McAuliffe, Professor Deborah Neely-Fisher and Senator Tim Kaine

McAuliffe and Kaine visited Professor Deborah Neely-Fisher’s ecology lab where the candidate and senator joined students in examining micro-organisms through microscopes and emphasized the importance of acquiring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills.

The group also toured the new welding lab in the Workforce Development and Conference Center where they chatted with CCWA’s Assistant Vice President for Open Enrollment Natalie Meredith about the Growing America through Entrepreneurship (GATE) program and the Adult Career Choice program.  

The visit culminated with a roundtable discussion with college administrators on a variety of topics including distance learning, academic excellence, the importance of early childhood education, new academic programs, workforce programs and community college challenges. 

McAuliffe noted, “In order to fill jobs for the 21st century I have said consistently that the community colleges are your engines for workforce development. I believe I am the first candidate for governor to visit all 23 community colleges. I want you to know that as governor this is a top priority for me, to focus on these community colleges.”