Dominion CEO appointed to UVa-Wise Board

The University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors appointed Thomas F. Farrell II to serve on The University of Virginia’s College at Wise Board.

Farrell, a member of the Board of Visitors and former rector of the University, serves as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion.

“I have enjoyed working closely with the College at Wise community for these last eight years and am honored to serve on the College’s Board,” Farrell said.

The Board of Visitors appointed Farrell to a four-year term, UVa-Wise Chancellor David J. Prior said.

"Mr. Farrell’s long record of dedicated service to the University of Virginia and his steadfast support of the College at Wise are well known,” Prior said. “We are delighted to formally welcome him to our Board."

Board of Visitors member Don Pippin, who also serves on the UVa-Wise Board, called Farrell’s leadership inspiring.

“Adding Mr. Farrell to the College Board at Wise is like adding Babe Ruth to the Yankee batting order,” Pippin said. “The College at Wise is fortunate beyond words to have a man who, by all accounts, is among the most respected leaders in Virginia. I can’t wait to work with him. He will be a tremendous Board member.”

Jim Gott, chair of the UVa-Wise Board, said Farrell makes a wonderful addition to the Board.

“He is a long-time supporter of our College and the University as evidenced by his tenure on the Board of Visitors, where he served a term as rector,” Gott said. “He has been and will continue to be a strong advocate of our College in Richmond and Charlottesville.”

Farrell earned his undergraduate degree in economics in 1976 and his law degree in 1979, both from the University of Virginia. A member of the Board of Directors of Dominion Resources and Altria, Inc., Farrell also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

He serves on the boards of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, Edison Electric Institute, Bon Secours Richmond Health System and the Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering Foundation. He also served as a member of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Posted June 15, 2009