Occupation: Retired teacher and school administrator after nearly 30 years. Served as Director of Adult and Community Education, Fairfax County Public Schools.

Member of Virginia House of Delegates: 1978-80; 1982-present.

• Commerce and Labor Committee
• Science and Technology Committee
• Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee
• Joint Commission on Technology and Science
• Legislative Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education
• Commission on Electric Utility Industry Restructuring
• Virginia Board of Education’s Adult Education and Literacy Advisory Committee

• Democratic Party of Virginia – Former State Chair
• Dulles Corridor Rail Association – Founder and Chair
• Virginia Literacy Foundation – Charter Member of the Board of Directors
• Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation – Board of Trustees
• Old Dominion University – Northern Virginia Center – Advisory Board
• American Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia – Board of Trustees
• Virginia 4-H Leadership Council – Council Member
• Celebrating Special Children, Inc. (publisher of a resource guide for parents of special children) – Founding Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors
• Arts Council of Fairfax County – Board of Directors
• Greater Reston Arts Center – Advisory Board
• Reston Chorale – Honorary Board Member
• Computer Learning Centers Partnership of Fairfax County – Board of Advisors
• Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty – Board of Advisors
• Virginia Citizenship Institute – Board of Advisors
• Virginia Cancer Advisory Board of the Virginia Cancer Plan Action Committee – Member
• United Christian Parish of Reston – Member and Board of Trustees

Recognitions:

• Coalition for Northern Virginians with Mental Disabilities – Distinguished Leadership Award, 2007
• Virginia Association of Health Plans – Distinguished Public Service Award, 2007
• Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce – Pinnacle Award, 2007
• Dulles Area Transportation association Founder’s Award for Transportation Leadership, 2007
• ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia – Appreciation Award, 2007
• Infant/Toddler Family Day Care – Achievement Award, 2007
• Recognition from the March of Dimes for the Expansion of the Newborn Screening Program, 2005
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation “2005 Outstanding Educator Award” honoring significant contributions in helping Fairfax County students attain their educational goals
• Mental Health Community Contributor Award by the Fairfax-Falls Church Mental Health Advocacy Community at the Mental Health awareness Week Conference, 2005
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation – Community Service Award for extraordinary commitment and leadership in improving public education for youth and adults in the Reston community and in the Commonwealth of Virginia, both as a professional educator and as a legislator, 2003
• John Sturdivant Memorial Award for outstanding leadership and service to the state, county, and community from the 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee, 2001
• Co-Legislator of the Year, Alzheimer’s Association of Virginia, 2000
• Outstanding Contribution by a Public Official for New Services Along the Dulles Corridor, Virginia Transportation Association, 2000
• Legislator Appreciation Recognition, Education for Independents Programs in Virginia, 2000
• Internet Leadership Award, U.S. Internet Council, for advancing sound public policies for the Internet, 1999
• Virginia Economic Bridge – Leadership Award for promoting jobs throughout Virginia, 1999
• “Tech Tenure” Award for innovative and positive efforts to strengthen technology businesses, further technology investments and broaden technology education and job training on behalf of the technology industry by the Northern Virginia Technology Council, 1999
• “Tech Ten” Legislator for legislative leadership on behalf of the technology industry by the Northern Virginia Technology Council, three-time recipient, 1996, 1997, and 1998
  Establishment of the Kenneth R. Plum Scholarship to the outstanding graduating senior, Fairfax County Public Schools, enrolled in “Project Opportunity.”
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s President’s Legislative Council, a select group of opinion leaders strengthening the visibility of business issues on the national level, 1998 and 1999
• “Champion for Children’s Health”
• Chosen by the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates to represent the General Assembly at the national Leadership Institute hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures, Aspen, Colorado, 1997
• Military Order of the Purple Heart Citation for outstanding legislative support to Virginia’s combat-wounded Purple Heart Veterans and their families, 1996
• Legislator of the Year, Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, 1996
• Legislative Leadership Award, Virginia Center on Aging, for leadership in and support of aging-related issues in the General Assembly, 1996
• Legislative Leadership Award, Virginia Literacy Council, for leadership in and support of basic education and high school completion programs and private literacy provider organizations, 1996
• Eco-Hero Award, Sierra Club, 1996
• Public Citizen of the Year Award, National Association of Social Workers-Virginia Chapter, 1995-96
• Legislator of the Year Award, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 1993 and 1995
  Outstanding Service to Young Children Award, Northern Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children, 1995
• Outstanding Service Award, Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, Inc., 1994
• Good Guy Award, National Women’s Political Caucus, 1992
• Drug Abuse Prevention “Warrior of the Year,” 1990