Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon Encourages Intentional Leadership at Reynolds Voices of Impact Speaker Series

Reynolds Community College welcomed Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon, president of Virginia Peninsula Community College, as the featured speaker for the Voices of Impact Speaker Series on Friday, January 16, 2026. Her talk, “Transitioning to Leadership with Clarity & Confidence,” drew faculty and staff to the Center for Innovation at the Massey Learning and Technology Center on the Parham Road Campus.

The Voices of Impact Speaker Series is part of Unlocking Potential, Reynolds’ college-wide professional development framework designed to foster growth, leadership and engagement across the institution.

Dr. Brannon was introduced by Reynolds President Dr. Paula Pando, who highlighted her colleague’s national experience across public and private higher education, including leadership roles at St. John’s University and LaGuardia Community College within the State University of New York system.

“She came to Hampton Roads in a storm — the storm was called COVID-19,” Pando said. “And even through that beginning of presidency, during such a difficult time, Dr. Brannon has become a force in the region — a leader who makes every person feel like they are the only one in the room.”

Brannon opened her remarks by emphasizing that leadership is not defined by title, but by intention, accountability, and impact.

“You don’t need a title to be a leader,” she said. “Transitioning into leadership starts with a conscious decision — a decision to move differently, to think differently, and to take responsibility for outcomes that matter.”

Drawing from her own career path, Brannon shared that she never set out to become a college president. Instead, she followed a desire to maximize impact, particularly in the lives of students and communities served by community colleges.

Throughout her talk, Brannon returned to the theme of leadership as a choice — often an uncomfortable one. She challenged attendees to consider whether they were willing to prioritize impact over personal comfort, popularity, or routine.

“Leadership is taking responsibility and accountability even when no one is forcing you to,” she said. “You do the right thing because it’s the right thing, even when nobody is watching.”

Brannon encouraged participants to rethink the notion that leaders are “born,” asserting instead that leadership is cultivated through mentorship, experience, and intentional growth. She urged attendees to invest in themselves and to seek out opportunities to learn, ask questions, and take risks.

Confidence, she noted, does not mean having all the answers.

Brannon stressed the importance of engaging diverse perspectives, especially when decision-making feels easy or unanimous.

“When everyone agrees, I get suspicious,” she said. “A strong leader asks, ‘Who’s not in the room?’”

Brannon also spoke about the increasing complexity of leadership in higher education, urging aspiring leaders to stay informed about national and state trends that influence policy, funding, and expectations for colleges.

“What happens in Washington and Richmond shows up on our campuses,” she said. “If you want to lead with confidence, you have to know what’s coming — even if you don’t know exactly how it will unfold.”

Brannon also offered candid advice on career advancement, particularly for internal candidates seeking leadership roles. Growth, she said, requires both self-advocacy and honest feedback. “Leaders have a responsibility to be honest with people about their readiness and potential.”

Brannon concluded by emphasizing courage as the defining quality of effective leadership.

“We never know what’s coming next,” she said. “But courage allows us to move forward anyway — to stand up for our students, our communities, and our mission.”

The Voices of Impact Speaker Series continues throughout the academic year as part of Reynolds’ commitment to professional development and leadership growth across the college community.

For more on the Voice of Impact Speaker Series, please visit our website.