JJ Bonavita (Photo: VPCC)
HAMPTON — Jeffrey (JJ) Bonavita has been named the new Director of Facilities Research at Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC).
Bonavita, who had served as interim director since September 2023, assumed his new role on October 1.
In his interim role, VPCC said Bonavita led several key initiatives related to the university’s effectiveness efforts and reaffirmation of Southern Association accreditation.
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC).
Stephen Felker, VPCC’s vice president of institutional effectiveness and transformation, said Bonavita’s leadership in the interim role proved he was ready to step into his new role.
“In addition to his one-year term as Interim Director of Institutional Research, Mr. Bonavita will
He is also an experienced faculty member, program chair, and leader in higher education. ”
Felker said in an email to university faculty and staff.
Bonavita earned a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition, food, and exercise from Virginia Tech in 2010 and a master’s degree in public administration from Old Dominion University in 2022.
“I always wanted to help people and solve problems,” Bonavita said. “I spent much of my early career honing my skills as a paramedic. What I didn’t know at the time was that I would also develop the ability to analyze situations, solve problems, and provide leadership. It means that
He served as a volunteer EMT during his time at Virginia Tech. After graduating from university, he joined Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service in January 2013 as a firefighter and paramedic.
He joined VPCC in 2015 as an emergency medical services (EMS) lab instructor and quickly became an adjunct faculty member.
He began teaching full time at VPCC in August 2019 and has been a member of VPCC’s EMS and Fire Science team for eight years, including two years as program chair.
“We are excited about the opportunity to support effectiveness and drive continued results.
It’s better,” Bonavita said.
According to VPCC, among his accomplishments as program chair was leading the fire and emergency department through its early accreditation efforts. He also led the program through post-COVID-19 recovery and increased the program’s enrollment and student success rates from 2021 to 2023.
He served as the Faculty Senate President at VPCC from 2022 to 2023 and as the 2nd Vice President from 2021 to 2022.
“Mr. Bonavita brings a unique combination of expertise in data analysis, learning outcomes assessment, accreditation, program evaluation, continuous improvement, and policy development to universities and research institutions,” Felker said.
Professor Felker emphasized that this is a particularly important time for the institutional studies department as the university enters a 10-year accreditation renewal process.
For more information about VPCC, visit vpcc.edu.
