Deborah M. DiCroce, a South Hampton Roads native and lifelong Virginian, has devoted her career to public service. A proven leader in forging partnerships for the public good, Dr. DiCroce has headed Tidewater Community College – the largest provider of undergraduate education in Hampton Roads – since May 1998, following nine years as president of Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville.

During her tenure, TCC has experienced thirteen consecutive years of record enrollment, unprecedented programmatic expansion in both the college transfer and career/technical areas, and a capital building program approaching $500 million.  This past year, the college served over 46,000 students ranking it among the largest and fastest growing community colleges in the Nation.

A strong advocate for education as the great equalizer, Dr. DiCroce’s work in expanding the reach of higher education across workforce, gender, racial, and cultural boundaries has been especially heralded. Among her many recognitions, she was named an “Influential Woman of Virginia” in 2010 by the Virginia Lawyers Weekly, “Downtowner of the Year” in 2005 by the Downtown Norfolk Council, and “Woman of the Year” by the Virginia Women’s Forum in 1993.  Hampton Roads Magazine named Dr. DiCroce to its “A-List of 50 Very Important People Shaping Life in Hampton Roads” in 2006.  In 2005, Portfolio Weekly included her in its list of “100 Best People, Places, and Things in the 7 Cities.”  Discover Portsmouth profiled her in its 2006-07 issue as a “living symbol of what is best about Portsmouth.”  Inside Business put her on its regional “power broker” list in 2000 and, this year, named her to its “power list” of 75 people who shape and influence Hampton Roads.  And, in 2008, The Chronicle of Higher Education profiled her as one of ten “Presidents Who Make a Real Difference.”

Dr. DiCroce has served on state-wide commissions and committees under five Virginia governors, most recently sitting on Governor Robert McDonnell’s Commission on Economic Development & Job Creation.  She is a past trustee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and a past chair of the Presidents Academy of the American Association of Community Colleges.  A few years ago, she completed a two-year term as chair of the Virginia Council of Presidents—marking the first time that a community college president has held the post. In 1995, Dr. DiCroce was invited as one of twenty college and university presidents nationally to meet with the President of the United States at the White House for a discussion on higher education.

Active in the community, Dr. DiCroce chaired the regional board of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce in 2006 and the United Way’s 2002 regional campaign.  She is currently completing a two-year term as chair of the Urban League’s Board of Directors.  On July 1, she became chair of the Board of Directors for the Hampton Roads Partnership.

Dr. DiCroce holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Old Dominion University and a doctorate in Higher Education from The College of William and Mary. She has been recognized as a distinguished alumna of both institutions, as well as of Norfolk Catholic High School.  Retaining her faculty roots, she has held adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Virginia, The College of William and Mary, and Old Dominion University.

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