Angelica Ramos
Contributing Writer
MONTGOMERY COUNTY- The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors recognized Dr. Pat Huber and Dr. Martha Ann Stallings on Dec. 16, 2024 for their service to the county and work with New River Community College.
New River Community College serves Floyd, Giles, Radford, Pulaski and Montgomery counties and has since 1969. Its main campus is located in Dublin, with a satellite campus in the Uptown Mall in Christiansburg.
After 35 years of service, New River Community College’s President, Dr. Patricia “Pat” Huber is retiring from her role. Huber began her presidency in 2017 after starting at New River Community College as a part-time English Instructor in 1988. Over the years Huber has served the community college in many roles and helped improve and push programs that help the student body such as the ACCE Program and upgrading equipment for various departments. Huber has been the president of NRCC for seven years. Her retirement is effective as of Dec. 31, 2024.
Dr. Martha Ann Stallings has worked with the ACCE Program at New River Community College for a number of years, but has also served Montgomery County as a whole in a multitude of ways from being Supervisor of Staff Development for Montgomery County Schools to working for the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech to mentoring and being part of her church’s tutoring program at Blacksburg Baptist Church. Stallings also volunteers with the Montgomery County Christmas Store which helps low income residents provide holiday cheer for their families with dignity.
During the Board of Supervisors meeting, Chair Mary Biggs and Vice Chair Steve R. Fijalkowski awarded both women a resolution of recognition for their hard work in Montgomery County and the community. Huber could not physically attend, but she did send someone in her stead to accept the recognition.
“Dr. Pat Huber has served New River Community College in a variety of administrative capacities,” said Biggs, reading the resolution, “for more than 35 years, becoming New River Community College’s sixth president in 2017 and the first female to hold the position. And, whereas, Dr. Huber has numerous accomplishments during her tenure which include offering of high quality academic and Workforce Development programs increasing enrollment and growing the access to community college education through the ACCE Program. And, whereas, Dr. Huber’s professional accomplishments include serving on the Community Foundation of the New River Valley board of directors Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and past president of the Pulaski Rotary Club and, whereas, Dr. Huber has won numerous awards during her tenure as president, including the 2024 Citizen of the Valley Award from the New River Regional Commission, the Community Woman of the Year award for 2020 by the American Business Women’s Association, the 2018 Business Executive of the Year by the Pulaski Chamber of Commerce and the 2018 Carl and Ruth Looney Humanitarian Award by Emery and Henry College. And, whereas, Dr. Pat Huber has announced she will retire Dec. 31, 2024, and, whereas, the Board of Supervisors expresses its deepest appreciation to Dr Huber for the outstanding contributions she has made during her 35 years of service to New River Community College and the New River Valley Community. Now, therefore be it proclaimed that the Board of Supervisors of Montgomery County Virginia hereby expresses a unanimous vote of appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Pat Huber and congratulates her on the occasion of her retirement with sincere best wishes for continued good health and happiness.”
In honoring Dr. Martha Ann Stallings, Chair Biggs read the resolution stating, “Dr Martha Anne Stallings spent 25 years in Montgomery County Public Schools where she taught at four schools and was a supervisor of staff development for six years. And, while at the school board central office she provided professional development for PreK through 12 Educators and in addition she was a member of the diverse forum and was instrumental in organizing and supporting middle and high school student diversity groups and grants. And, whereas Dr. Stallings carries on her mentorship to many as a community volunteer through impactful programs like the New River Community College’s ACCE, Access to Community College Education, program and through her leadership for the race for ACCE and Children’s Fun Run, a fundraiser to benefit the ACCE Program was established.”
Both Huber and Stallings were given a framed copy of their resolutions, gratitude from the Board of Supervisors and a thunderous round of applause from the audience.
