Jane G. Watkins to give keynote at RCC Commencement
Jane G. Watkins, former CEO and president of Virginia Credit Union, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Class of 2017.
Rappahannock Community College will hold its 45th annual Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 12 at the Warsaw Campus. Among the speakers who will address the graduates will be the former president and chief executive officer of Virginia Credit Union, Jane G. Watkins. Ms. Watkins will serve as the keynote speaker for the Class of 2017.
Watkins continues to make a difference in Virginians’ lives through her service to numerous institutions across the state. Watkins was President and CEO of Virginia Credit Union for the last 16 years of her 34-year career there, where she enabled remarkable growth and expansion of services to its members.
At her retirement in 2016, Watkins had presided over a doubling of membership to 250,000, as well as a quadrupling of assets to $3 billion. Technology advancements and financial service enhancements became hallmarks at Virginia Credit Union during this time.
Watkins became a champion for financial education at Virginia Credit Union and in the community. Because of her vision for helping people gain greater confidence in their ability to manage money, Watkins set up a series of school presentations, workshops, and seminars that have reached nearly 70,000 individuals since 2007. She has served on the Virginia Council of Economic Education Board, Advisory Board for Teacher Education and Licensure for the Virginia Department of Education, and Virginia Credit Union League Financial Literacy Task Force. Also, she speaks regularly to university schools of business and serves on national, statewide, and local business and charitable boards. Her expertise is utilized in her roles as a board member to the VCU Investment Management Company, Bon Secours Richmond Health Systems, various private foundations, and The Community Foundation of Richmond and Central Virginia.
A Virginia CPA since 1977, Watkins has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has received numerous honors for her professional and community service, which include YWCA of Richmond Outstanding Woman in Business in 2009; Virginia Career and Technical Education Hall of Fame in 2013; Virginia Council on Economic Education, J. Curtis Hall Award in 2011; VCU School of Business 2013 Alumni Star; and Executive in Residence, Longwood University, College of Business and Economics in 2006.
A warm and active person, Watkins lives in Chesterfield County with her husband and two sons. She spends much time in Essex County, where she boats and kayaks with her family. She also likes to read, needlepoint, and play the piano.
