Dr. Jean C. Netherton has served higher education in a number of capacities for almost half a century.  She has been a faculty member at Alabama College, Michigan State University, the University of Maryland, and Northern Virginia Community College.  She served as Dean and Provost of Northern Virginia Community College – Alexandria Campus for a combined 22 years.  She was selected as the first woman Dean and first woman Provost in the Virginia Community College System.  Dr. Netherton completed her Ph.D. degree at MSU in 1966, under the direction of Dr. Janet Wessel, in the areas of physical education, communication, and instructional technology.  She went on to distinguish herself as an administrator by creating the vision and leadership for classroom research, advancing professional faculty development, supporting the development of numerous new academic programs, and fostering a campus workplace that was open, flexible, caring, and sensitive to the needs of faculty, staff, and students.  She has been recognized for her outstanding leadership through the Northern Virginia Community College Board Leadership Award.