Head shot photo of H. Benson Dendy III
H. Benson Dendy III

H. Benson Dendy III begins term as rector of VCU Board of Visitors

Carolina Espinal will succeed Dendy as vice rector

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H. Benson Dendy III, a senior staff member for two Virginia governors and a former secretary of the commonwealth, will begin a term as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors on July 1.

Dendy has served on the board since 2016 and currently is its vice rector. He will succeed Keith T. Parker, whose two-year term as rector ends June 30. Carolina Espinal will succeed Dendy as vice rector.

“Ben has a lengthy record of public service in the commonwealth and is a dedicated friend to VCU and I am looking forward to working with him as he leads the Board of Visitors,” said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. “I would also like to thank Keith for his commitment to VCU and for his leadership.”

Dendy is president of The Vectre Corp. and a member of its board of directors. He has held several positions in public service since beginning his career in state government in 1978. Over the course of seven legislative sessions, Dendy advocated for two governors’ agendas in the General Assembly and served on transition committees for Govs. Mark Warner and Terry McAuliffe.

Dendy has been appointed and reappointed to the board of trustees of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation by six Virginia governors of both parties. He served as chair of the board of trustees for over eight years. In 2003, he was appointed by the secretary of the interior to the federal Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission and served as its vice chair. He graduated from the University of Richmond, magna cum laude, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

“I am honored to accept this role and look forward to working with an actively engaged board to further student success and access; grow our research portfolio, fundraising and national reputation; and expand our efforts in making VCU a welcoming, inclusive institution for all,” Dendy said.