Joan Wodiska

Joan Wodiska serves in several professional, public service, and board roles and is experienced at working with officials in the legislative and executive branches of federal, state and local government.

Professional: Mrs. Wodiska is the CEO of Pioneer Management Consulting, LLC, a boutique consulting firm in the Washington DC area that provides customized leadership and strategic policy counsel to clients in education, broadband, workforce, and aerospace. Previously, Mrs. Wodiska served as the Senior Federal Affairs Counsel for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), where she represented the nation’s state legislatures, 7,300 legislators and 30,000 legislative staff. From 2004-2013, Joan led education and workforce policy at the National Governors Association (NGA), where she represented the nation’s 55 governors before the White House, Congress, and federal agencies. She also served as the Chief Leadership Officer for the American Council on Education (ACE).

Public service: Mrs. Wodiska is currently serving in her fifth statewide public role, as Chair of the Virginia College Partnership Laboratory Committee, following four gubernatorial statewide appointed positions (two Republican and two Democratic). In addition, she served nine years as an elected local school board member, serving as Chair and Vice Chair, and eventually, the President of the Virginia School Boards Association.

Other current roles: Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, College of Arts & Sciences. Vice Chair, Virginia Space Flight Academy Board of Directors.

Academic: MA Political Management, George Washington University (Washington DC), Valedictorian. BA Double Major, Economics and Political Science, Concordia College, (Moorehead MN). Economic Policy Scholar, American University (Washington DC).

Last updated: 1/2025