Board Members Bios
Pam Mandell Freedman
Pam is a Charlottesville native, back home after living in New York City, Washington DC, and Paris. She was a producer of television commercials at DDB Needham and McCann Erickson in New York and a writer/producer at National Geographic Television in Washington. She has volunteered with Light House Studio, the Virginia Film Festival, the Monticello Heritage Harvest Festival, McLean Project for the Arts, and Cornell University, for which she has been an interviewer of prospective students.
She enjoys traveling with her husband and two grown sons and taking advantage of all that living in a university town offers.
Pam is a graduate of Albemarle High School and Cornell University.
Valerie Gregory
Valerie is a retired Associate Dean of Admission and the Director of the Outreach Office at The University of Virginia. She received a BS in Early Childhood Education from Hampton (Institute) University and M.Ed in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia.
After being a teacher and principal for many years she came to the University of Virginia as an Assistant Dean of Multicultural Recruitment where later she became an Associate Dean of Admission and the Director of Outreach. This team was created in the office of admission to assist families from underrepresented and under-served groups with the college admission process. She was in this position for twenty-two years during which time she conducted workshops and webinars on minority recruitment best practices, presented at regional, statewide and national conferences on topics such as college admission, essay writing, financing a college education, writing effective recommendations and diversity initiatives. During her time at the University, Valerie received several awards and recognitions for her work with diversity and inclusion, community service, college admission, and her support and mentoring to specific populations.
Upon her retirement, the newly renovated auditorium in Peabody Hall, Office of Admission at the University of Virginia was named after Dean Gregory for her work and dedication to diversity and equity.
Elva Mason
Elva Mason is a seasoned entertainment attorney, talent manager and media relations manager/strategist. She has extensive experience in media relations management, strategy and public relations.
Ms. Mason has negotiated deals and provided media and public relations assistance for experts, professionals and talent in most facets of entertainment, including national and international television, television cable series, radio, performance agreements, international touring deals, recording and production, and major motion picture and documentary film.
She has managed and promoted media for a host of experts/ celebrities and clients who have appeared on local, regional, and national and international media; including, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, The Today Show, CBS Early Morning, Good Morning America, 20/20, Tru TV, TV One, BET, The Voice, XFactor, Extra, E Entertainment, PBS, NPR, Sirius XM, Radio 2 Dubai/UAE, Telemundo, Univision and more.
Her client roster includes a who’s who of experts and talent, both legal, media and management, in all genres of music including jazz, r & b, gospel and Latin, local businesses and civic organizations.
Ashley Woodard
Ashley Woodard (she/her) began working at the University of Virginia in the School of Medicine in January 2018, and she currently serves as the Senior Assistant Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program. Prior to joining UVA, Ashley spent eight years working at Longwood University and nearly two years at the University of Mary Washington in undergraduate admissions and enrollment management. Throughout her career in higher education, Ashley has worked to increase the diversity of each entering class, as well as worked to increase student involvement and engagement. Additionally, Ashley is a doctoral student in the higher education program in the School of Education and Human Development at UVA. She plans to finish her doctorate in the spring of 2023. Ashley earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 2008 and master’s degree in counselor education from Longwood University in 2013.