Photo of John Capps

John Capps has served as the president of Central Virginia Community College since 2011. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at Virginia Tech and over the course of his career, has worked as an English instructor at Wytheville Community College, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Western Community College. He served as the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Virginia Western and the interim president at Lord Fairfax Community College before becoming president of Central Virginia Community College, where he has remained for the past 11 years.

1. What was your first job and what did it teach you?

My very first job was a forklift operator at a warehouse. I got this job after graduating from high school and would work there during the summer when I was studying at Virginia Tech. It taught me the importance of teamwork and having a strong work ethic. It also taught me a lesson about the satisfaction that comes from a job well-done. I would unload the trucks, stack the pallets, and then load the trucks. I could go home with a clear mind because my work was done; there was nothing else for me to do until I did it all over again the next day.

2. What is your favorite part of your job as president of Central Virginia Community College?

As president of Central Virginia Community College, I still envision myself as a teacher of sorts. I enjoy the opportunity to play a role in the advancement of the college by moving the communities we serve forward. I think college and university presidents are notorious for their preoccupation with new buildings. I value great buildings and great facilities as much as the next person, but I also care about another kind of building. And that's helping people build their hopes, dreams, and careers. That's what we do here at CVCC.

3. What are some of the ways your work at Central Virginia Community College has tied into your work on the GO Virginia Region 2 council?

In some key ways, these two roles are really one and the same. The ultimate goal of all education is workforce development. In my role as the president, I try to promote student success and instructional excellence, but I also strive to promote workforce and economic development. Probably the most explicit way in which that connection has been made is through my work with the Regional CTE Academy and the Region 2 council's support of that endeavor.

4. What are some of the lessons you have learned from serving on the Region 2 Council?

Something that has impressed me about the work of the Region 2 Council is the level of cooperation among the different members who represent different geographical areas and areas of interest. One of the lessons I've learned from seeing that attitude in action is what's good for all of us is better than what's good for some of us. That's been truly refreshing, particularly since I think it's such an extraordinary quality. Another of the lessons I've learned is that economic development is more than just numbers. Ultimately, it's about people. It's about helping people improve the quality of their lives as you help them help themselves.

5. What is the most memorable place you have ever visited?

The Blue Ridge Parkway, which is a 15-minute drive from our house. I like to spend time on the parkway because when you're on those mountaintops you can experience the majesty of those panoramic vistas. That's good for the soul. When Emerson writes about being in nature he says, “The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God.” And that's how I feel when I'm on the parkway.