The Office of Government Affairs and Community Relations:
- Provides leadership and supervision for NOVA's government and public affairs.
- Participates in the development and promotion of legislative priorities.
- Coordinates the development and implementation of legislative strategy.
- Participates in local, state and federal legislative activities.
- Participates in community-based educational, corporate and cultural activities.
- Coordinates a process of identification and development of new strategic community relationships with potential members of the College Board and NOVA Educational Foundation Board.
- Coordinates a process of identification and development of new strategic relationships with key members of the legislature and local government as well as business and civic leaders in the community.
- Provides assistance for groundbreaking ceremonies and building dedications.
- Assists the President in providing staff support to the College Board.
José Dimas
José Dimas serves as Director of Governmental Affairs for NOVA. He advocates for NOVA before local, state, and federal policymakers. He has over 20 years of experience in government relations and has represented state courts and cities/towns before states and the federal government. Prior to coming to NOVA, he served as Government Relations Director for the Professional Background Screening Association. He began his professional career working for a member of Congress from Texas.
Mr. Dimas has a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a graduate degree from Baylor University. José and his wife Sonya live in South Arlington. Their daughter Hannah attended classes at NOVA and is currently a student at Amherst College in Massachusetts.
Amanda Wilder
Amanda Wilder serves as the Acting Associate Director for Federal Relations and works with the NOVA College Board.
Amanda has worked at NOVA since 2009 as a counselor in various roles supporting students at all phases of their engagement with NOVA from high school through college graduation and has taught as an SDV Instructor.
She was twice elected by her peers as chair of the College Senate and has also served as chair of the College Staff Forum Council. Amanda brings her experience in shared governance along with a breadth of understanding of NOVA and its students to the Office of Government Affairs and Community Relations.
Amanda holds a master's in counseling psychology from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a bachelor's in biology from Rhodes College.
Joni Keaton
Joni Keaton serves as an Administrative Assistant in the Office of the President. She supports College Government Affairs and the NOVA College Board.
Prior to joining the team at NOVA, she served as an AmeriCorps member with a local housing non-profit in Montgomery County, MD, helping with client outreach, volunteer coordination, and project management. She subsequently worked as a staff member supporting the development, communications, and marketing efforts of the organization.
Joni has an extensive background in dance and continues to teach and perform with dance companies in the DMV area. She has also been involved with the Montgomery County Board of Elections since 2010, serving first as a Future Vote volunteer and then as an Election Judge to help facilitate operations at local polling locations for primary and general elections.
Joni earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance from the University of Oklahoma.