Alpha Kappa Alpha Soror Traci J. DeShazor Appointed Secretary of Administration for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Another Divine Nine soror is stepping into a powerful role shaping the future of public service.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has announced the appointment of Traci J. DeShazor, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, as Virginia’s next Secretary of Administration, a Cabinet-level position overseeing critical administrative and operational functions across the Commonwealth.

In making the announcement, Governor-elect Spanberger highlighted DeShazor’s long-standing commitment to public service and effective governance, noting that throughout her career she has remained focused on “making Virginia’s government work better for the people at both the state and local levels.” The Secretary of Administration plays a vital role in state government, from protecting the right to vote to supporting the thousands of Virginians who serve across state agencies.

DeShazor, a lifelong Virginian and native of Danville, brings decades of experience across municipal, state, and federal government. She previously served as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governors Ralph S. Northam and Terence R. McAuliffe, supervising eight divisions responsible for core constitutional and administrative functions that served more than 2,000 Virginians each week. During that time, she played a key role in historic efforts that restored the civil and voting rights of more than 300,000 Virginians, while also supporting thousands of pardons and sentence computations.

At the local level, DeShazor served the City of Richmond as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services, overseeing a six-agency portfolio with more than 1,000 employees. Her leadership helped launch the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, establish new offices focused on homelessness and neighborhood support, and open a community resource and training center aimed at strengthening coordination and self-sufficiency for residents facing hardship. She also made history as Richmond’s first-ever Chief Equity Officer, helping modernize the city’s language access policies.

Following the announcement, the Mid-Atlantic Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated publicly celebrated DeShazor’s appointment, writing:

“💗💚 We proudly congratulate our sister, Traci J. DeShazor, on her selection by Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger as Virginia’s next Secretary of Administration. This appointment reflects her outstanding leadership and commitment to public service… Congratulations, Traci! We are proud of you and wish you continued success in this impactful role.”

A graduate of Virginia Tech and Hollins University, DeShazor has also completed leadership programs at the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Yale University. She currently serves on the Virginia Tech Foundation Board of Directors and the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board.

She resides in Richmond with her husband, Wayne, and remains deeply committed to serving the Commonwealth she has always called home. Her appointment is yet another powerful example of Divine Nine sorors continuing to lead with impact, integrity, and purpose at the highest levels of public service.