Kathy Thomas ('78)

Kathy's contribution to change is very special — she has helped many women bring their babies into the world. After giving birth to her first two daughters, she began teaching prenatal exercise classes for the YMCA, studied for two years to become certified as a childbirth educator, and taught Lamaze classes in Northern Virginia hospitals and in her own private practice at home for 20 years. Even as she raised two more daughters, Kathy became certified as a labor doula, a trained assistant who provides support and care for women throughout labor and delivery. Kathy, who majored in marketing with a minor in economics and data processing, worked as a computer programmer with Freddie Mac just after graduation. She continues to honor her ties to JMU's College of Business — she and husband, Mike, a fellow alum, are co-chairs of the CoB's Centennial Campaign Committee. Today, as two of their daughters attend JMU, Kathy works as the lead teacher in a preschool class.

"I am such a world away from where I started, but JMU gave me the foundation of education I needed to be able to tackle any task and succeed."