Tashika Griffith named new president of Germanna Community College

Tashika Griffith has been named the new president of Germanna Community College in Locust Grove, which serves student learners in the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford.

Her service as president at Germanna will begin Jan. 1.

Van Wilson has served as the interim president at the school since the retirement of Janet Gullickson on July 1.

Griffith currently serves as provost and chief campus officer at the Clearwater campus at St. Petersburg State College in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she has been since 2022.

“It is with deep humility and great enthusiasm that I assume the role of president of Germanna Community College,” Griffith said. “I extend my sincere gratitude to Chancellor Doré, the college’s advisory board, the search committee, and the many faculty, staff, students, and alumni who participated in this process. I also wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to interim president Dr. Van Wilson for his steady leadership and dedicated service during this transition.”

“I have been deeply impressed by Germanna’s strong sense of community and its steadfast commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student success. I look forward to building upon this remarkable foundation as we continue advancing the College’s mission and impact across the region,” Griffith said.

Griffith has her undergrad degree from Florida Atlantic, a master’s from Virginia Tech, a Ph.D. from Northeastern and a professional certificate from Harvard.

Her professional resume includes stints at the University of Tennessee, the University of Miami, the University of Scranton and Virginia Tech.

She currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at VCU.

“I’m excited to welcome Dr. Griffith to lead Germanna Community College, and I know that she will provide the kind of dynamic leadership that will continue to make Germanna a cultural center and economic driver in its region,” said Dr. David Doré, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System.

Griffith was chosen from a group of 80 candidates identified in a nationwide search.

“I have great admiration for Dr. Griffith’s commitment and extensive experience in higher education,” said Ann Marie Anderson, chair of the Germanna Community College local advisory board. “She is an experienced educational leader, and the local advisory board and I look forward to working with her.”