Joy Pugh

Full Bio

In this role she leads comprehensive strategy across enrollment for engaging schools, communities, state agencies, and other stakeholders to foster excellence, expand opportunity, and strengthen service to all regions of the Commonwealth.   

As executive director of the Virginia College Advising Corps, a statewide postsecondary access program based at UVA, Joy raised more than $30 million to scale near-peer mentoring and advising to students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds. During her tenure, VCAC served more than 100,000 graduating seniors across the Commonwealth, assisting them in navigating postsecondary education and career opportunities and transforming their lives.  

Joy has over 20 years of experience in higher education, leading organizations and developing learning-oriented teams that strive towards improvement and impact. An engaged leader both within and beyond higher ed, Joy has served on numerous boards and committees, including as President of Virginia College Access Network and Vice-President of Piedmont Housing Alliance. She has collaborated with multiple Governors’ administrations on issues of educational access. Joy earned a B.A. from UNC-Charlotte, M.Ed. from James Madison University, and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University.