WHEREAS, Mary Redd Nelson, a distinguished alumna of Virginia Union University, has greatly served her alma mater in various distinguished capacities over the years; and

WHEREAS, after becoming an alumna of Virginia Union University (VUU) in 1967, Mary Nelson joined the local Richmond Alumni Chapter of VUU and was subsequently elected president of the Virginia Union University National Alumni Association (VUUNAA); and

WHEREAS, as president of the VUUNAA, Mary Redd Nelson coordinated and conducted leadership training workshops across the United States to establish guidelines and strategies for the operation of alumni chapters, developed a one-million-dollar campaign fund gift plan, and advocated for and secured a seat for herself and future VUUNAA presidents on the VUU Board of Trustees; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, Mary Redd Nelson facilitated the establishment of the Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter of VUU by consolidating chapters in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach and incorporating alumni from Chesapeake; and

WHEREAS, as president of the Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter of VUU from 2002 to 2012, Mary Redd Nelson developed the organization into one of the premier chapters of the VUUNAA; and

WHEREAS, Mary Redd Nelson was unanimously selected by the members of the Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter of VUU to be named its Outstanding Member of the Year in 2021; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Mary Redd Nelson hereby be commended for her legacy of service as an alumna of Virginia Union University; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mary Redd Nelson as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her contributions to Virginia Union University and the Commonwealth.