2021 - Daphyne Saunders Thomas

Daphyne Saunders Thomas is retired professor emerita at James Madison University.  A graduate of The Washington and Lee University School of Law, she joined the College of Business faculty in 1981, and completed her MBA at JMU.  Thomas earned her undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech. She currently teaches graduate classes for James Madison University for the Executive Leadership MBA and for the Master of Accounting programs. She was a co-founder and co-director of the CyberCity Summer Program, a nationally award-winning summer technology program for middle and high school students from underrepresented populations. She is the first woman and first African-American to earn tenure in the JMU College of Business.
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Community Service:
Chair, Harrisonburg Electric Commission,   
F&M Corporation Bank Board 
Sunnyside Board of trustees, Chair of Governance and Strategic Plan Committee 
Explore More Discovery Museum 2021 
Harrisonburg/Rockingham Child Daycare Center, Vice-President, 2019 
Community Service Board Halfway House Chair 
Community Foundation Scholarship and Grants Committee 
United States Selective Service Regional Board 
Board member: The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County   
Member of Board and former Chair:  Harrisonburg/Rockingham County Community Services Board 
Former Board Member:  Harrisonburg/Rockingham County United Way  
Former Board Member and former Chair:  Community Mediation Center
  
Gubernatorial Appointments: 
Former Member:  The Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees 
Former Member:  The Commonwealth Transportation Board 
Former Board Member:  The Outstanding Virginian Day selection 

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