Germanna Community College has marked a major expansion in Northern Virginia with the opening of its new Stafford County Center, a 74,000-square-foot complex designed to address critical workforce needs in healthcare, cybersecurity, and information technology.
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The $20 million project, the largest ever undertaken by the College's Educational Foundation, features two newly renovated buildings: the Kevin L. Dillard Health Sciences Building and the Barbara J. Fried Building. The expansion aims to double the College's nursing program enrollment while strengthening its technology and workforce development initiatives.
The expansion represents a collaborative effort among multiple stakeholders, including the Stafford Economic Development Authority, The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, and Mary Washington Healthcare. Additional support came through Congressional allocations from U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, specifically for cybersecurity program expansion. Financial support from Mary Jane Pitts O’Neill, Rhonda and Adam Fried, and Kevin Dillard proved to be transformational for this endeavor.
"These partnerships have been instrumental in bringing this ambitious project to fruition," said Dr. Janet Gullickson, President of Germanna. "The Stafford County Center is more than just buildings—it stands as a beacon of opportunity for Stafford County and beyond."
The Barbara J. Fried Building, located at 10 Center Street, serves as a comprehensive student services hub, offering tutoring, financial aid assistance, counseling, and academic advising all under one roof. The facility includes a library, food pantry, dedicated spaces for business, cybersecurity, and IT training, the Jack Rowley Student Services Center, and plans are in place for a Pearson VUE testing center.
"This new center represents an incredible opportunity for area residents to access comprehensive student support from Germanna—all in one convenient location," noted Dr. Tiffany Ray-Patterson, Vice President of Student Services and Equity Advancement.
The Kevin L. Dillard Health Sciences Building houses the College's expanded healthcare programs, featuring the Dr. Patti Lisk Virtual Hospital and the Robert C. O'Neill Wellness Center. The virtual hospital provides simulation-based training for healthcare students, while the Wellness Center, set to open in spring 2025, will offer community health services.
The project, which began with the buildings' purchase in October 2022 and underwent renovation throughout 2023, was completed under the supervision of Germanna's facilities team and Dario Construction of Fredericksburg. Classes are currently open for enrollment across various programs, including general education, evening cybersecurity courses, and health sciences.
As the largest public higher education nursing program in Virginia, Germanna's expanded facility will eventually accommodate 400 nursing students, directly addressing the regional healthcare workforce shortage and supporting the incoming Veterans Affairs Clinic in Fredericksburg.
The Stafford County Center represents Germanna's commitment to economic development and educational accessibility in Northern Virginia, offering flexible learning opportunities for both traditional students and working professionals seeking career advancement.