HAMPTON, Va. (Oct. 3, 2022) — Hampton University is excited to announce the appointment of Joy L. Jefferson as Vice President and Executive Assistant to Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams. Jefferson brings more than twenty-five years of experience in higher education to the campus and is certainly no stranger to Hampton University. Jefferson is a Hamptonian through and through.
“We are very excited to announce Joy Jefferson’s return to Hampton University, serving as Vice President and Executive Assistant to the President. Mrs. Jefferson’s extensive and adept knowledge of Hampton will be invaluable to faculty and staff and to the university in delivering the #1 student experience in America to our students,” said Dr. Darrell K. Williams, Hampton University President.
In this role, Jefferson will assist President Williams in his day-to day engagement with both internal and external key university constituent groups. Additionally, Jefferson will assist the President in addressing priorities related to advancing Hampton University as a world class university that delivers the best student experience in the United States.
Jefferson returns to her ‘Home by the Sea’ from Old Dominion University’s Office of Alumni Relations. Since January 2016, she served as the chief administrator and strategist for the Old Dominion University Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Relations, providing leadership for all alumni engagement. Jefferson was the leader in cultivating an alumni community of more than 163,000 living alumni throughout the United States and around the world. She played a strategic role in supporting ODU’s advancement and alumni relations efforts and served as a key member of the Vice President of University Advancement’s senior leadership team.
Jefferson previously served as Vice President for External Relations at Hampton University. Her responsibilities included the overall leadership and supervision of the Offices of Alumni Affairs, the Annual Fund, University Relations, Marketing & Communications, and she served on the President’s Administrative Council. Jefferson provided day-to-day and strategic management of alumni philanthropy and fundraising, alumni engagement, the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc.’s Board of Directors, University communications and brand management, media and public relations, and special events.
While at Hampton University, Jefferson also served as Associate Vice President for Development, Assistant Vice President for Development, Director of University Relations, and Director of Student Activities. She has also held the position of Director of Development at North Carolina State University.
Jefferson has also been a member of the Virginia Peninsula YMCA Board of Directors in addition to the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities State Board of Directors, the An Achievable Dream, Inc. Board of Directors, and Relay for Life Virginia Peninsula Executive Committee.
A native of Newport News, VA, Jefferson is a 1986 graduate of Hampton University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Mass Media Arts. She and her husband, Ronnie, have two daughters, Kayla and Christina.
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