RADFORD – A Radford University alumna who went on to become president of a Virginia university will return to her alma mater to give the commencement address Saturday, Dec. 17.

Belinda C. Anderson, president of Virginia Union University, will join RU President Penelope W. Kyle as she presides over her first graduation at RU.  Both women are the first females to lead their institutions.

“Dr. Anderson is the kind of role model I wanted our graduating students to hear,” says Kyle.  “She has distinguished herself in Virginia higher education and our students have said they want to hear from alumni who can share their success stories.”  Kyle said Anderson is also one of several RU graduates who are now college presidents.

A 1976 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history and social science, Anderson also received her master’s degree in history from RU the following year.  She earned her doctorate from Virginia Tech in higher education and administration.  The Roanoke native was appointed president of Virginia Union University by the school’s board of trustees in May 2004. Anderson served as interim president during the 2003-04 academic year and previously was vice president for academic affairs.

She has been actively involved in higher education at both the institutional and state level since 1982 in the areas of academic and student affairs. Anderson began her career teaching high school social studies in the Portsmouth and Norfolk school systems.  In 1984, she served as director of Academic Advising Services at Radford University where she coordinated a campus-wide academic advising system.  In 1988, she assumed the position of dean and professor of the School of General and Continuing Education at Norfolk State University. At the state level, Anderson served as director for student affairs and senior academic affairs at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Anderson has presented numerous papers on student retention, authored grants and received many awards and recognitions.  In October 2001 she was honored by RU as Outstanding Alumnus of the Year. 

Graduation ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. in the Dedmon Center arena.