Germanna Gala Raises Over $500,000 for Germanna Students

For Immediate Release
June 3, 2025

Fredericksburg, VA—The Germanna Gala, held on Friday, May 30, was a special night, as community partners and supporters came together to honor local students and celebrate a remarkable Germanna figure.

Thanks to generous partners, event sponsors, and donors, the Gala raised $523,000 in support of Germanna students, providing them with the tools and resources they need to stay in the classroom.

The event also recognized Dr. Janet Gullickson, who, after eight years of dedicated service to Germanna and nearly 50 years in higher education, is retiring.

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Appointed as Germanna’s first woman president in 2017, Dr. Gullickson has expanded the College exponentially, growing to serve 13,500 students annually, with notable increases in enrollment, retention, and graduation rates exceeding statewide averages. She launched transformative programs such as Germanna Guarantee and College Everywhere, expanded partnerships across education, healthcare, and industry, and advanced equity through initiatives like Black Minds Matter. Her tenure brought in over $20 million in grants and led to national recognition from the Aspen Institute and Insight Into Diversity. Most recently, Germanna was designated as one of the nation’s top Opportunity Colleges and Universities by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Learning. Germanna is among the top 16% of all colleges and universities to receive this designation, and the only community college in the Commonwealth to be recognized.

Major milestones under Dr. Gullickson’s leadership include the creation of the Stafford County Center, the upcoming Turnage Health Sciences campus, and Virginia’s first community college lab school. Dr. Gullickson has also been an influential leader statewide and nationally, earning multiple awards and championing the mission of community colleges—one deeply personal to her and her family.

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“The beauty of working in education is it reminds us daily that we have great value. Regardless of our role—we’re all here for students,” said Dr. Gullickson during Friday night’s event. “It isn’t often that you can get up in the morning and say that you’ve made a difference. But everyone at this event tonight can say that. Because of your donations, internship opportunities, support, you have made a difference.”

To honor Dr. Gullikson’s legacy, the College’s Educational Foundation awarded her Board Member Emeritus status and established a permanent fund in her name.

“We are very excited to announce a new branch of the Germanna Cares program,” said Eileen Dohmann, Germanna Educational Foundation Board Member. “The Dr. Janet Gullickson Student Empowerment Fund will continue your life’s work by addressing food insecurity, removing the transportation and technology barriers, and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue their own path to success.”

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Among those in attendance at the Gala were Virginia Community College System Chancellor Dr. David Doré, Chair of the State Board for Community Colleges Terri Thompson, Delegate Bobby Orrock, Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools Dr. Marcie Catlett, Virginia Community College System presidents, representatives from the Mary Washington Healthcare Board of Trustees, The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, the Stafford Economic Development Authority, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, the local college board, and the Educational Foundation board, among representatives from Germanna. Additional greetings and congratulations were sent from Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

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“In her eight years as president, Dr. Gullickson has dramatically enhanced Germanna’s reputation as a leader in higher education and an essential partner in the workforce community,” said VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré. “Janet, I wish you well. And I want to thank you for all your support and your extraordinary efforts to make sure Germanna continues to deliver on its promise to provide quality, affordable, and accessible educational opportunities to the residents of Fredericksburg and beyond. Yours has truly been a job well done.”

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Dr. Van Wilson will succeed Dr. Gullickson as Interim President of Germanna, effective July 1, 2025. A national search for Germanna’s next permanent president will begin soon, with input from the college board, employees, and local stakeholders.

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For media inquiries:
William Berry
Director of Marketing and Recruitment
(540) 834-1019
wberry@germanna.edu

About Germanna Community College
Established in 1970 as part of the Virginia Community College System, we are a comprehensive community college providing quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities for the residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford and for online learners everywhere.