Meet Wanda...            

Wanda Blackwell moved to Stafford after serving 21 years in the armed forces.  She received a Master of Public Administration degree, with a concentration in Criminal Justice, from Troy State University while serving in the military.  Shortly after retiring from the U.S. Army in 2006, Wanda received a master’s degree in Organization Management and Behavior, with a concentration in Leadership, from Capella University.

After settling in Stafford, Wanda’s daughter attended Rodney Thompson Middle School, graduated from North Stafford High School and went on to attend Virginia State University.

After the military, Wanda served as an adjunct facilitator at Central Texas College (Camp Casey Annex), South Korea, teaching business management and a prevention of sexual harassment seminar.  The Army veteran has also been a weekly life-skills facilitator with Rappahannock Regional Jail for a number of years, only to be disrupted by the pandemic.

Her volunteer roles with an impact on children is extensive.  Wanda has been a Virginia Court Appointed Special Advocate, library storyteller, Brownie Troop-leader and church dance teacher. The former soldier was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for her volunteer efforts. Wanda also volunteered with the Stafford County Branch of the NAACP, serving terms as both 1st and 2nd vice-president. This enabled her to stress the importance of community service and voting with the members of the youth branch.
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Wanda is an avid runner, and every year she completes multiple half-marathons.  When not running, Wanda loves to write, and has self-published four books, two written for children.
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"I believe that all children deserve an equal quality education,
​so they have the chance to succeed and flourish."
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