Piedmont Profile: Silvia Dowell

Silvia Dowell is the Scholarship & Alumni Association Coordinator for Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). She has deep roots in the Charlottesville area. Her family has lived in Albemarle County for 14 consecutive generations.

A graduate of Western Albemarle High School, Dowell attended PVCC and earned her bachelor’s degree from Longwood University. She majored in Physical and Health Education with a focus in sports medicine and sports psychology. She also earned coaching endorsements for eight sports.

Now at PVCC, Dowell’s love of education shines as she interacts with students.

“The students at PVCC are amazing and diverse. Each has their own story and I always try to find unique and wonderful qualities about them, their backgrounds and their interests. I like to hear about their triumphs, struggles, determination and their future plans,” said Dowell.

A few of Dowell’s responsibilities include cultivating relationships with prospective scholarship donors and strengthening that bond with existing donors through constant communication and appreciative interaction. This is why it is important for student scholarship recipients to write thank you notes to their benefactors. They want to know how their generosity makes a difference in the lives of students as they move forward. The note may contain a class experience or an example of how a student has used their newly acquired knowledge in a real-life situation.

Dowell also serves as a liaison with community organizations that award funds to additional students in need of assistance.

As Alumni Association Coordinator, Dowell’s role leaves a lasting footprint on PVCC. This involves building a strong, active base to network and help support the college long term. Community colleges are not known to have alumni associations. Many former students more readily identify with their high schools and four-year colleges.

Dowell has held her position at PVCC for the past six years, culminating in a 25-year career, working in the field of institutional development and advancement.

In addition to her position at PVCC, Dowell volunteers on various scholarship selection committees, is actively involved in the American Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scouts of America and baseball’s Babe Ruth League of Virginia.

Dowell is currently continuing her education through Mary Baldwin University where she is enrolled in the Master of Higher Education degree program.

Dowell said this educational experience is different and “as a returning adult student with work experience and a family, it changes your perspective. I [also] see this as an opportunity to do more in my field at whichever institute I might work at.  It opens a lot of doors that would otherwise be closed.”

The best thing about working at PVCC, Dowell said, “is the interaction with students and watching them persevere and succeed! I am blessed to experience so many different cultures and backgrounds through the many people I meet at PVCC.”