A longtime University of Mary Washington professor, a veteran administrator and an alumni leader were honored by the Girl Scout Commonwealth Council of Virginia at the ninth annual Women of Distinction awards program at the university’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center September 22.
UMW Alumni Association President Sue Bridi, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Sabrina Johnson and Education Professor Brenda Vogel were among nine Women of Distinction recognized for their leadership and impact on the community through professional and volunteer achievements in the greater Fredericksburg region.
The other honorees were Neda S. McGuire, owner of Comfort Keepers; the Rev. Theresie Houghton, director of Olde Forge Junction Inc.; Jane Hollenbeck Conner, retired educator, author and historian; Mickie Galik, resource development manager for Rappahannock United Way; Melanie Lashus, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense test and evaluation project lead at Dahlgren; and Carrie H. O’Malley, partner at Hirschler Fleischer, P.C.
Sue Bridi, vice president and branch manager for PNC Bank in Fredericksburg, has worked in the local banking industry for more than 30 years, sharing her financial expertise and acumen with a multitude of businesses and families. Bridi also has volunteered to help numerous local nonprofit organizations, including as cofounder of the “Pawsitively Fredericksburg” and “Fintastically Fredericksburg” events that raised funds for the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, the SPCA, the Downtown Retail Merchants Association, the Fredericksburg Area Museum, and Friends of the Rappahannock. A 1981 Mary Washington graduate, she is president of the UMW Alumni Association through 2010 and has been active in other UMW groups including the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, where she represents the alumni.
Sabrina Carey Johnson, UMW associate vice president for human resources and Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity officer, has held that position since she arrived at Mary Washington in 1997. She was the first executive director of Richmond’s Black Student Foundation, an organization formed to change lives through educational opportunities. After earning a law degree and a license to practice law in Virginia in 1991, Johnson served as a judicial law clerk in the Alexandria Circuit Court. In 1993, she joined the staff of attorneys and counselors at the Virginia Department of Employment Dispute Resolution where she began her professional concentration in human resources. Johnson has a long record of volunteer involvement, and she currently is a member of the Rappahannock United Way’s board of directors. Now in her fourth term as a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Council on Human Resources, Johnson holds the elected position of council chair.
Brenda E. Vogel, UMW professor of education and director of education programs, became a member of the university faculty in 1977. Vogel served as chair, coordinator of teacher education services and director of field experiences for Mary Washington’s Department of Education prior to her 1999 appointment as director of education programs at the Stafford campus. Vogel has played a central leadership role in the development of the university’s wide array of graduate education offerings, which include the Master of Education and teacher licensure programs, as well as a variety of education certificates, license renewal courses and National Board Certification support. Also, she serves as director of field experiences and coordinator of public education services. Vogel has chaired or served on numerous university-wide committees. Over the years, she has had extensive involvement in the community, including as co-founder of the area’s Phi Delta Kappa chapter, and as a volunteer active in local classrooms, on numerous school accreditation visiting teams and as speaker at professional gatherings.