Meet Our All-Volunteer Board
We are often looking to recruit new Board members who care about the human rights of people with developmental disabilities. Energetic and dedicated volunteers make The Arc of the New River Valley a productive chapter statewide and are always welcome. Please get in touch with us if you are interested in the rewarding work of serving on a board where you make a measurable difference in the real lives of other people right in your own community.
Chris Cadwallader
Board President, Advocacy Committee
Chris has served on our board since 2005, and taught special education for more than four decades. Issues close to her heart include eliminating the waiting list for community-based support services for people with disabilities, and integrated schooling for students with disabilities. She loves travelling, Tarheels basketball, and her four delightful grandchildren.
Judy Rowe
Secretary, Co-Chair Events Committee
A board member since 2014, Judy is a retired special education teacher from Montgomery County, VA. She says, “It’s such a pleasure to see former students all grown up and being successful in the community!” She enjoys family, bicycling, hiking, gardening and being outdoors.
Susan Morikawa
Treasurer, Social Media and Membership Committees
Susan joined the board in 2015 to serve as Treasurer and to learn about disability issues and realities. She enjoys walking, reading and digital storytelling.
Charlie Fox
Advocacy Committee
Charlie has been on the board since 2010. He is passionate about ensuring that people who experience disabilities have an opportunity to live and participate in their communities. Charlie enjoys hikes in wild, beautiful places.
Judy Gwazdauskas
Chair Membership Committee
Judy has served on the board since 2004. She has been advocating for people with disabilities for 35 years. She says, “Much has changed in this time, but we must continue until people with disabilities are truly valued in the community.”
Bayley Alphin
Co-Chair Events Committee
Serving on the Events committee since 2013, Bayley helps pull things together. She has a spirit of service and enjoys spending time with her family and young son in Blacksburg. She has supported people with disabilities for almost 20 years.
Robert Metz
Events Committee
Robert has been on the board since 2010 making sure we have the church for our meetings and the big room for our Christmas party! He loves to travel, especially to neices and nephews graduations.
George Rogers
ALLY Self-Advocate
George joined the Board in 2016 and keeps our Facebook page lively. He is a tireless advocate for disability rights and is a member of the Virginia Self-Advocates Alliance as a delegate representing the New River Valley to the state chapter organization.
Nancy Camajani
Events Committee
Nancy joined the Board in 2019. A recently retired Medical Technologist, Nancy believes strongly in the least restrictive, fair and appropriate education for all people as well as their being embraced by their communities with opportunities for meaningful work and rewarding citizenship.
Brad Powers
Brad joined the board in 2020 and is currently a Special Education Coordinator for Pulaski County Public Schools. He previously taught special education for 8 years at Christiansburg Middle School. Brad is passionate about inclusive schools and communities. He is an avid golfer and spends the majority of his time chasing his two rambunctious boys around. He brings another strong voice for inclusive schools to our board.
Franklin Lawson
Franklin is an alumni of the On Campus Transition Program at Radford University. After graduation, he was selected for a Project Search internship at Carillion NRV Medical Center which led to a permanent job there. He is an experienced advocate for issues of concern to people with disabilities, currently serving as a liaison to the newly formed Self-Advocates Alliance. Franklin is in the process of finding and buying his first house.
Matthew Hudgins
ALLY Self-Advocate
Matthew graduated from Blacksburg High School and the On Campus Transition Program at Virginia Tech. He is a Peer Mentor with The Arc of Virginia’s Peer Mentoring program, where he turns his love of learning how things work, planning, and computer skills toward helping others. Matt is also member of the Virginia Self-Advocates Alliance as a dedicated delegate representing the New River Valley to the state chapter organization. He enjoys fishing, gaming, playing in video game tournaments, building battle bots, creating YouTube videos, and making friends.
Mary Jane King
Mary Jane was a Special Education teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools spending most of her service at Blacksburg High School and Christiansburg Middle School. She spends as much time as possible with her children and grandchildren. She loves the outdoors and swimming. She also likes spending time with friends. She is an advocate for people with disabilities and believes in inclusive education.
Jessica Swanson
Jessica joined the board in 2023. She is a graduate of Roanoke College and Virginia Tech with degrees in Business Administration. She is passionate about inclusive communities and advocating for people with disabilities.
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