Governor Kaine Signs Legislation Creating New College Institute in Martinsville
– Also announces first Board appointments –

MARTINSVILLE – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today ceremonially signed legislation creating the New College Institute in Martinsville, and named his first appointees to the New College Board of Directors.

House Bill 517 (Armstrong/Hurt) and Senate Bill 40 (Reynolds) establish the New College Institute, which is charged with expanding educational opportunities in Southside by providing access to degree-granting programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The Institute will work to diversify the region’s economy by forming partnerships with existing private and public institutions of higher education, public schools, and the public and private sectors.

“I am very pleased to be here today to reiterate the bipartisan support for the New College Institute, which we consider extremely important for the future of Martinsville and Henry County, for Southside Virginia, and for the entire Commonwealth,” Governor Kaine said. “The New College Institute will play a key role in our effort to expand access to higher education opportunities, and it will be critical to the entire Southside region as we move into a century in which knowledge has become the currency of the marketplace.”

In addition, Governor Kaine announced his first seven appointees to the New College Institute Board of Directors. Five additional appointments will be forthcoming from the leadership of the Virginia General Assembly:

• Elizabeth H. Haskell of Martinsville will serve as a member of the Board. Haskell is currently a member of the Planning Commission for the New College Institute, and is a director and vice president of the Martinsville Bulletin. She has previously served as Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources and chair of the State Air Pollution Control Board.
• George Lyle of Martinsville will serve as a member of the Board. Lyle is currently the County Attorney for Henry County, and serves as chair of the Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees.
• Amanda H. Redd of Martinsville will serve as a member of the Board. She is the owner of Sammy Redd & Associates, a real estate investment company based in Martinsville. Redd previously taught first grade in Henry County, and has served on several boards, including the Virginia 4-H Foundation.
• Kimble Reynolds, Jr., of Martinsville will serve as a member of the Board. Reynolds currently serves as Vice Mayor of Martinsville, and is the sole practitioner of a general practice law firm. He is also chair of the Martinsville/Henry County Community & Economic Development Strategy Advisory Committee.
• Joseph Roach of Martinsville will serve as a member of the Board. Roach is the Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, and is a member of the board of The Harvest Foundation. He also serves on the Martinsville/Henry County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.  
• Rob H. Spilman, Jr., of Martinsville will serve as a member of the Board. Spilman is Chief Executive Officer of Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc., and serves as a trustee for the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges.
• Dr. Eugene P. Trani of Richmond will serve as a member of the Board. Trani is President of Virginia Commonwealth University. He also serves as the president and chair of the VCU Health System Board of Directors.

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