I
am pleased to share that Pamela Northam, educator, environmentalist,
and wife of Governor-elect Ralph Northam, has accepted Virginia
Wesleyan's invitation to deliver the Commencement Address on May 19,
2018—the first formal graduation ceremony as Virginia Wesleyan
University.
Mrs. Northam has taken a leading role in Hampton
Roads and Virginia to protect water quality, improve the health of the
Chesapeake Bay, and ensure the Commonwealth’s natural beauty is
preserved for generations to come.
She was most recently the
Community Outreach Coordinator for Lynnhaven River NOW (LRN), a
non-profit environmental group working to improve the water quality of
the Lynnhaven River. Along with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, LRN is
housed in the Brock Environmental Center—“Virginia’s greenest
building”—located in Virginia Beach. Mrs. Northam oversaw advocacy and
outreach programs to homeowners, congregations, and businesses to help
them to become more sustainable.
Prior to joining LRN, Mrs.
Northam taught high school biology. Then, recognizing a need for STEM in
elementary education, she became a national award-winning science
specialist. She worked to develop an inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum
for students in grades K through 5. After spending more than 20 years
volunteering with school PTAs, she was appointed to the Board of
Trustees of the Science Museum of Virginia, and is also on the board of
the innovative E3 School in Norfolk.
After studying at Baylor
University and the University of Texas, she initially specialized in
pediatric occupational therapy, where her work included rehabilitation
hospitals, teaching hospitals, and special education.
She and
her husband traveled extensively during his service in the U.S. Army.
Although the Northams currently travel often to Richmond and throughout
the state, they value the rare time they spend with family and friends
at home in Norfolk. Their son Wes is a neurosurgery resident. Their
daughter Aubrey is a recent graduate of UVA working as a web developer.
We are delighted that Mrs. Northam will join us to share
this special moment with the Class of 2018, their family and friends. It
is an honor to conclude the first year of the Greer Environmental
Sciences
Center with an address by such a distinguished advocate for the natural
world.
