JMU's presidents

Julian A. Burruss

Samuel Page Duke

G. Tyler Miller

Ronald E. Carrier

Linwood H. Rose

World-Changer Profiles

James Madison

Carolyn Abitbol ('67)

Donna Amenta

Shawn Arnold ('76, '81M)

Andy Bacon ('00)

Carole Baldwin ('81)

Brian Balmages ('98)

John Barrick ('76)

Ken Bartee ('83)

Phil Bigler ('74, '76M)

Norlyn Bodkin

Keith Brill ('77)

Shelby Brown ('83)

Bill Buck

Tom Carr ('84)

Ginjer Norris Clarke ('94)

Dan Cole ('87)

Cynthia Coolbaugh ('70)

Maj. Patrick Creed ('93)

Joe Damico ('76, '77M)

Kai Degner ('03, '05M)

Mark Dertzbaugh ('82)

Sue Dickson ('52)

Lt. Col. Mike Dillon ('81)

Tom Dingledine

Dr. Dan Downey ('75)

Linia Duncan ('07)

Curt Dvonch ('08)

Katy Elmore ('01M)

Ed Estes

Karen Evans

Richard Evans

Vanessa Evans ('93, '97M)

Judith Flohr

Bruce and Lois Cardarella Forbes ('64)

Marlon Foster ('82, '95M)

Joanne Gabbin

Mark Gabriele ('95)

Chris Gatesman ('94M)

Elizabeth Gauldin ('50)

Valerie Gibbs ('11)

Joann Grayson

Oris Griffin

Jazminia Griffith ('06)

Jennifer Griffith ('09)

David Grimm ('74)

Debbie Grimm ('74)

Donna Sizemore Hale ('81)

Charles Haley ('87)

Barbara Hall ('82)

Sarita Hartz ('02)

Derwin Henderson ('83)

Mike Hoss ('84)

Vida Huber (1937-2005)

Dan Irwin ('90)

Eric Johnson ('95)

Pamela Johnson

Jessica Kahn ('91)

Josh Kelaher ('11)

Shannon Kennan ('97M)

Katie King ('97)

Lesley Kipling ('99)

Karina Kline-Gabel ('92)

Margot Knight ('74)

Jonathan Koves ('05)

Susan E. Kruck ('94) ('95M)

David LaMotte ('90)

Emily Lewis Lee ('43)

Steve Leeolou ('78)

Gordon Leisch ('56, '65M)

Gladys Kemp Lisanby ('49)

Nathan Lyon ('94)

Amy Macaleer ('01)

Gina MacDonald

Sonja Macys ('97)

Virginia Mann ('06)

Samier Mansur ('07)

Nate Marsh ('01)

Maj. Gen. Raymond Mason ('78)

Special Agent Charles T. May Jr. ('83)

Beth McGinnis ('00)

MeMe McKee ('99)

Amy McPherson ('83)

Challace McMillin

Matt Miller ('98)

Sushil Mittal

Roger Myers

Tracey Neale ('89)

Dee Nilsen ('00)

John B. Noftsinger Jr. ('85)

Nursing Student Association

Mary Ellen Garber Otto ('58)

Ross Paterson ('90)

Erin Peacock ('07)

Michael Peretich ('06)

Joy Petway ('07)

J. Peter Pham

Janet Phillips ('88)

Laurie Tusing Phillips ('85)

Robert and Frances Plecker

Ryan Powanda ('09)

Jim and Julie Riley ('99P, '05P)

Don Rhymer ('82)

Dave Rizzo ('83)

Dick and Shirley Hanson ('56) Roberts

James Robinson

Inez Graybeal Roop ('35)

John Rothenberger ('88)

Bertie Martin Selvey ('58)

W. Raymond "Buddy" Showalter Jr. ('50) (1928-2007)

Mary Slade

Charles Douglas 'Doug' Smith ('93)

Wesli Spencer ('06)

Anne Stewart

Stanley Stewart ('78)

Diane Strawbridge ('80, '02M)

Judy Strickler ('60)

Debra Sutton

Elizabeth Swallow

Laura Taalman

Kimberly Taylor ('79)

Jason Teasley ('02)

Casey Templeton ('06)

Bruce Thayer ('84)

Kathy Thomas ('78)

Mike Thomas ('76, '77M)

Jeff Tickle ('90)

Sean Tobin ('92)

Dennis Tracz ('78)

Kate Trammell

Christina Updike ('73)

Cathy Webb

Louise Wilkins-Haug ('76)

J. Craig Williams ('79)

Mandy Woodfield ('05)

Grace Wyngaard

Amy Porter Zacaroli ('88)

Derwin Henderson ('83)

LAPD Officer and Kids' Hero

Convinced that every kid deserves a chance, Derwin Henderson went beyond his role as a Los Angeles police officer and began a youth-league football team to channel aimless, vulnerable kids away from crime and drugs. Derwin's generosity is enormous. He's been known to pay for kids' league fees and uniforms out of his own pocket, and he took money from his savings account to provide team transportation. But he's gone even further, welcoming kids in need into his home. Derwin, or "Coach D" to his kids, has been a mentor, role model, guardian and surrogate father. The kids call him their hero -- after all, he's done more than change lives; he's saved them.

"I saw kids ... crying out for help. I saw their lives, their families, their neighborhoods. It changed my views about young people. ... Didn't every kid deserve [a] chance? I just wanted [them] to have a chance."