Dr. Laura Treanor
President, Virginia Western Community College
Dr. Laura J. Treanor became the fifth president of Virginia Western Community College on July 1, 2025. Throughout more than three decades in higher education, she has dedicated her career to advancing educational excellence through innovation, collaboration, and partnerships that strengthen students and the communities they serve.
A passionate advocate for student success, instructional quality, and employee development, Dr. Treanor is recognized for bringing people together around a shared vision and leading thoughtful, collaborative change. To her, leadership is defined not by title or position, but by the willingness to create opportunity for others. She believes everyone has the capacity to lead from where they are, and that colleges have both the opportunity and responsibility to transform lives while serving as catalysts for regional growth and prosperity.
Before joining Virginia Western, Dr. Treanor served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Instructional Services at Vincennes University. Earlier, she held senior academic leadership roles at Baker College and faculty appointments at Roanoke College, West Virginia University, and Barton College.
An active leader in higher education and the community, Dr. Treanor serves on several national and regional executive boards and contributes to organizations advancing economic development, innovation, workforce development, and community collaboration. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Woman Leader Award from the American Council on Education Women’s Network of Indiana.
Dr. Treanor holds bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University. She and her husband, Brian, live in Roanoke, where they enjoy exploring Virginia, taking day trips, playing board and card games, and watching documentaries.
She believes a college’s greatest legacy is measured not by the credentials it awards, but by the opportunities it creates for individuals, families, employers, and the communities it serves, a belief that continues to shape her presidency at Virginia Western Community College.
Updated September 2026