Debra Cartwright Meade

Meade enjoyed a distinguished career in the newspaper business, including 30 years at The Roanoke Times, where she became President and Publisher in 2007 and retired in 2013.

The Norfolk native holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech. She also attended Longwood College, now Longwood University, when it was a women’s college.

Meade was appointed by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to the Roanoke Higher Education Authority Board of Trustees in 2009 and served through 2013, including as vice chair. She has served as board chair and annual campaign chair of United Way of Roanoke Valley, board vice chair of Roanoke’s Planned Parenthood affiliate, and on the board of the Roanoke Business Council. Currently she is a trustee of the Taubman Museum of Art and a volunteer with Star City Reads, Roanoke’s early childhood literacy initiative.