Our Board Members
Judith “Tessie” Wilson
Mrs. Wilson is the primary motivator of College Access Fairfax. A former member of the Fairfax County School Board, she has an extensive accounting practice specializing in non-profit entities. In that capacity, she has served as accountant to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria for more than a decade, and is familiar with the operations of a College Access program through her membership in the Virginia College Access
Christian N. Braunlich
Christian is Immediate Past President of the Virginia State Board of Education, where he served four years. He is a former eight-year member of the Fairfax County School Board, and a former official with the National Association of Manufacturers. He is currently Vice President of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy and has written extensively on education issues for numerous national and local newspapers.
Emily A. Snyder
Emily is the founder and Managing Director of Know Your Options, LLC an educational consulting firm located in Fairfax County, Virginia. With extensive experience in education, child development, and business management, Emily uses her breadth and depth of knowledge and skills to successfully manage a practice focused on meeting the college planning and higher education needs of students seeking undergraduate,
Hon. James H. Dillard, III
Mr. Dillard is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, where he served as chairman of the House Education Committee. A 32-year veteran of the General Assembly, he was an active Fairfax County teacher and principal for 30 years. A graduate of The College of William and Mary (B.A.) and The American University (M.A., Political Science), Mr. Dillard is now a member of the William and Mary Board of Visitors. He is known to Fairfax County leaders as an active advocate and supporter of education, and as a member of the General Assembly led the fight for additional education
Steve Sengstack
Mr. Sengstack is the executive director of the Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation. For 37 years, he was a teacher, counselor and administrator. During his career he worked at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Robert E. Lee High School and Annandale High School. He served as an English teacher, a head football coach, a school counselor and a director of student services. Mr. Sengstack now works at George Mason University as a supervisor to English teacher interns. He holds a B.A. from Emory & Henry College and a M.Ed. from George Mason University.
James W. Dyke
Mr. Dyke is a founding incorporator of the Fund. An attorney with the firm of McGuire Woods, he is a former Virginia Secretary of Education, was a Domestic Policy Advisor to former Vice President Walter Mondale. Mr. Dyke is an active leader in the Northern Virginia business community having served as chairman of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Northern Virginia Business Roundtable, chairman of the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, and chairman of the Emerging Business Forum. He has served or is serving on a number of