Job: Program director, Academy for Nonprofit Excellence, Tidewater Community College

At work: I often say I work at the intersection of higher education and nonprofit management — two things I care deeply about. The Academy for Nonprofit Excellence is a partnership program between TCC and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. I lead strategic planning and oversee our portfolio of professional development programs tailored to nonprofit professionals. My work focuses on revitalizing and expanding offerings such as the Certificate in Nonprofit Management or StartUP Certificate. My goal is to ensure the academy remains responsive to the diverse and evolving needs of local nonprofits — a calling that has become even more critical given the shifting landscape affecting the social sector at this time.

Volunteer activities: As a lifetime member and Gold Award Girl Scout, I was thrilled to join the GSCCC board several years ago. I also serve on the education and grants committees for the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, an organization dedicated to preserving maritime history and protecting the Chesapeake Bay’s natural resources. Because my husband and I met on tall ships, it’s especially meaningful to stay connected to the sailing community through this work.

Home and family: My husband, Steven P., and I consider ourselves proud Norfolkians; we moved back to the Mid-Atlantic from Boston in 2013. With a kindergartner and a toddler, our weekends are largely spent conducting rigorous research on Norfolk’s playground network. Current favorites include the Ocean View/Community Beach playground and the Lafayette playground. Our two rescue dogs, Trixie and Mojo, round out the household with equal parts mischief and snuggles.

Motivating factor: I’m deeply committed to the idea that our community resilience is powered by people. We can’t create and sustain the transformational programs Hampton Roads needs without first valuing and supporting the people who make them possible. Essentially, I’m passionate about building workplaces where people want to show up and make a difference.

Advice for women in business: Be the change you wish to see. Leadership isn’t about the title you hold or the office you sit in. It’s about leading with integrity, showing up with purpose and modeling the values you expect from others.

The one thing I would change about Hampton Roads: Having moved from Boston, a city with impressive public infrastructure, I can’t help but imagine how much stronger and more interconnected Hampton Roads could become with similar investment. I still haven’t given up on the dream of a light rail that moves across city lines, connects neighborhoods and business centers, and helps bridge the socio-economic divides that continue to separate us.

Professional goal in five years: Having worked in nonprofits both large and small across Hampton Roads, I understand how essential the Academy for Nonprofit Excellence is to building a successful and empowered region. I love what I do. My goal is to grow alongside the academy and elevate it into a thriving hub for nonprofit professionals, making it the region’s first choice for nonprofit leadership development and equipping leaders to drive sustainable impact.

Downtime: On a typical day, this often involves entirely too much binge-watching and doom scrolling. I also love exploring the area’s incredible cultural sites and museums with my family — we’re members of the Virginia Zoo and Norfolk Botanical Garden. I’m passionate about travel, both as a way to create memories with my family and to broaden my perspective. This past spring, we took the girls to Spain and Portugal, and I’m always planning our next adventure.

What really gets under my skin: Systemic inequality. It frustrates me that in the wealthiest nation on earth, people still lack homes, children go hungry or without medical care, and education is both underfunded and increasingly expensive. My mom taught me early to “think globally, act locally,” and that lesson guides me every day. I focus on addressing the problems I can influence. I believe that small, local action can ripple into meaningful change on a larger scale.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/15/women-in-business-2025-sarah-linden-brooks/