Board Members

Ms. Jeanne S. Armentrout is the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Carilion Clinic, where she oversees the administrative and support functions for the health care system, including audit and compliance; diversity, health equity and community benefit; human resources; physician recruitment and credentialing; home care and hospice; technology, data and digital care; marketing, planning and organizational communication; supply chain, retail and wellness.   Ms. Armentrout serves as adjunct faculty in the Health Care Administration Program at Radford University Carilion. She is a member of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.

Ms. Armentrout received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1981 from Radford University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia in 1987 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in 2019.

Ms. Armentrout was appointed in June 2022 by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Ms. Armentrout's term expires June 30, 2026.

Betsy D. Beamer is the director of planning and organization at McGuireWoods Consulting, where she has worked since the firm's founding in 1998.  Ms. Beamer served as Virginia's Secretary of the Commonwealth under Gov. George Allen from 1994 to 1998, and previously served on the Radford University Board of Visitors from 1999 to 2003.

Ms. Beamer received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University in 1981 and received the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1997.

Ms. Beamer was appointed in 2023 to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Rachel D. Fowlkes and reappointed in 2024 by Governor Glen Youngkin.

Ms. Beamer's term expires on June 30, 2028.

Ms. Joann Craig is an owner and chief financial officer of SAS Builders, Inc. with in-depth experience in real estate, construction and finance. Since joining the SAS team in 2001, she has financed more than $200 million in non-recourse loans and $100 million in recourse construction loans.  Ms. Craig has also led CMG Leasing, the property management division, since 2004. Prior to joining SAS Builders, Craig was CFO for American Healthcare, a company with 2,000 employees and annual revenues of $50 million.

Ms. Craig is a 1983 graduate of Radford University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

Ms. Craig was appointed in June 2023 by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Ms. Craig's term expires on June 30, 2027.

Callie M. Dalton '82
Term expires: June 30, 2028
Roanoke, VA

William C. Davis
Term expires: June 30, 2028
Blacksburg, VA

Dr. Betty Jo Foster is a retired professor and vice president of Academic and Student Services at Danville Community College, following a 36-year career at the school.  She also served as the interim president of Central Virginia Community College and interim president of Danville Community College.  In 2022, she served as the interim president of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville. 

Dr. Foster is a 1969 graduate of Radford University with a B.S. in Business Education. She received a M.S. from Virginia Tech and an Ed.D. from NOVA University.

Dr. Foster was appointed in June 2023 by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Dr. Foster's term expires on June 30, 2027.

Mrs. Jennifer Wishon Gilbert, of Mount Jackson, is a 20-year veteran broadcast journalist- most recently working as Senior Washington Correspondent for CBN News. Mrs. Gilbert worked as a White House Correspondent for nearly a decade after previously covering Congress. She began her television career in the Roanoke Valley at WDBJ7 as an associate producer and reporter, then left to manage WDBJ7's Richmond bureau where, as Richmond Bureau Chief and Capitol Correspondent, she covered the General Assembly, governor, and Virginia's congressional delegation.   

Mrs. Gilbert earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies in 2001 from Virginia Tech.

Mrs. Gilbert was appointed in June 2022 by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Mrs. Gilbert's term expires June 30, 2026.

Mr. Tyler W. Lester serves as legislative director for Virginia Senator Todd Pillion and served as his legislative aide while a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from March 2016 to January 2020.  Mr. Lester also served as a Field Representative for U.S. House of Representative H. Morgan Griffith from January 2015 to March 2016.

Mr. Lester was appointed in September 2022 by Governor Glenn Youngkin to fill an unexpired term.

Mr. Lester serves as Vice Rector for 2024-2025.

Mr. Lester's term expires June 30, 2025.

Mr. George Mendiola Jr. serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of FSA Federal, the largest U.S. Department of Justice government service provider.   Mendiola leads the organization of more than 1,500 professionals across 400 government sites providing investigative, legal and litigation, and administrative support services.  He has 20 years of progressive experience in strategic planning, organizational development, contracts management, proposal development, customer engagement and financial planning.  

Mr. Mendiola earned a  Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2000 and a Master of Business Administration in 2002 from Radford University.

Mr. Mendiola was appointed in June 2022 by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Mr. Mendiola's term expires June 30, 2026.

Ms. Lisa W. Pompa currently works for Spark Therapeutics, a leader in gene therapy for rare genetic illness, where she directs their payer strategy and all assets and strategy for the Market Access Team.  She has 17 years of healthcare reimbursement experience and 33 years of experience in the commercial biotech industry. 

Ms. Pompa received her Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from Radford University in 1986.

Ms. Pompa was appointed in 2021 by Governor Ralph Northam.

Ms. Pompa's term expires June 30, 2025.

Mr. David A. Smith, of Roanoke, has been Territory Sales Manager for Altria Group Distribution Company/ Philip Morris USA since 1988. Prior to that, he was a manager at Roadway Express and an assistant men's basketball coach at Radford University.

Mr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Science in Communications and Master of Science in Guidance Counseling from Radford University.  In 1995, he was an inductee in the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2017, he and his wife, Pebbles ‘85, were awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the Radford University Alumni Association.  Mr. Smith is a current member of the Radford University Athletic Foundation Board.

Mr. Smith was appointed in 2019 by Governor Ralph Northam and reappointed in 2023 by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Mr. Smith's term expires on June 30, 2027.

Mr. Marquett Smith retired from Verizon Wireless after a distinguished career, which included Area Vice President of Customer Experience, Region President and Vice President of Enterprise Services.  In his most recent role, he was responsible for leading a team of over 4,800 customer service professionals, who provided national and area level support and as Region President, he had operational responsibility for a $2.8 billion revenue stream. 

Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Radford University in 1985.

Mr. Smith serves as Rector for 2024-2025.

Mr. Smith was appointed in 2021 by Governor Ralph Northam.

Mr. Smith's term expires on June 30, 2025.

Jonathan Sweet '00
Term expires: June 30, 2028
Fairlawn, VA

Mr. James C. Turk Jr. has served as a partner in the law firm of Harrison & Turk, P.C. since 1987 and practices general law in all Virginia state and federal courts. A native of Radford, Mr. Turk has a legacy of community involvement having served on numerous boards, including SunTrust Bank, New River Valley Region Board of Directors; Virginia Tech Athletic Foundation Board of Directors; Roanoke College, President's Advisory Board; and New River Community College Education Foundation, Board of Directors.  Mr. Turk served as an adjunct professor in the Radford University Department of Criminal Justice from 1986 to 1999.

Mr. Turk received a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business administration from Roanoke College in 1979 and a Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1984.

Mr. Turk was appointed in June 2022 by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Mr. Turk's term expires June 30, 2026.

Matthew Close, Ph.D.

Onajae Edmund