CHESTER and MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – John Tyler Community College welcomes Rachel Biundo as the institution’s new vice president of institutional advancement. Biundo brings with her extensive experience in communications, marketing and fundraising. She comes to Tyler from the Medical Society of Virginia, where she served as the vice president of communications and marketing. Before that, Biundo (previously Mertz) was the executive director of the Senior Center of Richmond and the director of development at St. Joseph’s Villa.
Biundo discovered her interest in the communications field while attending Virginia Tech. “Writing was an area of strength for me,” she says. “So, when I began exploring career options, a degree in communications made sense.” As Biundo honed her skills in the workforce, another interest developed – fundraising. “I saw how marketing, public relations and fundraising work together in a successful development office, and I was intrigued,” she says. “I was fortunate to work for one of Richmond’s best relationship and resource development professionals, who encouraged me and generously taught me the ins and outs of running a development program.”
As vice president of institutional advancement at John Tyler, Biundo oversees the John Tyler Community College Foundation and the College’s Creative Services team. “This role brings together the skills I’ve developed throughout my career,” says Biundo. “That excites me. I’m thrilled to be working for an institution that helps people discover their passions and recognize their potential through education. That has the power to transform individual lives and enrich entire communities.”
John Tyler Community College is the fifth largest of the 23 community colleges in Virginia. With campuses in Chester and Midlothian and off-campus classrooms throughout the area, John Tyler offers quality and economical opportunities for students who want to earn a degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year college or university, train for the workforce, or switch careers. The College, which served nearly 14,000 students during the 2013-14 academic year, offers 18 associate degrees, seven certificates, and 36 career studies certificates. The institution also serves more than 13,000 non-credit trainees and over 1,000 companies and government agencies annually through the Community College Workforce Alliance.