Roanoke Center institute developing a new pipeline of female municipal leaders
Participants in the Virginia Women's Municipal Leadership Institute gather at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center. The institute builds leadership ski...
Participants in the Virginia Women's Municipal Leadership Institute gather at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center. The institute builds leadership skills, giving participants the confidence to apply for municipal management positions. Photo by Diane Deffenbaugh for Virginia Tech. As town manager of Hillsville, Retta Jackson is often the only woman in the room where town business is being discussed. 'No matter how much we have progressed from the past, there are still men who think because you're a woman in a room full of men, you need to be the one to make and serve them coffee,' Jackson said.