Lobbying

Mrs. Wodiska is a trusted bipartisan advisor to state policy leaders and c-level executives working with federal, state and local government.

Public Service

Mrs. Wodiska has served Virginians for more than 20 years in public office. At present, she serves as the Chair of the College Partnership Laboratory Committee for the Virginia State Board of Education. Mrs. Wodiska also serves on the Virginia Community College System Board, helping to set policy and governance for Virginia's 23 community colleges. In total, she has held six statewide appointed positions, including Vice President of the Virginia State Board of Education. Prior to state service, Mrs. Wodiska served nine years as a locally elected school board member, including terms as Chair and Vice Chair. She also served as President and Past President of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA).

Professional

Professionally, Mrs. Wodiska served for a decade as Director of Education and Workforce for the bipartisan National Governors Association (NGA), where she represented the nation's 55 governors before the White House, Congress, and federal agencies. Later in her career, she served as a senior leader at the bipartisan National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), where she represented the nation's 7,000+ state legislators and 35,000+ state legislative staff. She also served in policy and leadership roles in the US Senate, the American Council on Education, the National School Boards Association, the American Counseling Association, and U.S. Department of State. 

Currently, Mrs. Wodiska is President of Pioneer Management Consulting, LLC, a policy, leadership, and governance consulting firm. 

Non-Profit Board Service

Mrs. Wodiska is also a champion and supporter for numerous causes that impact conditions for children and learners in the United States. She serves on the Executive Committee and as Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee for the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Through this role, NC-SARA serves 49 states and more than 2,400 colleges and universities, and more than 2 million college students, expand access to postsecondary education across the United States. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA), Virginia’s residential aerospace camp serving children in Virginia and across the country. 

Education 

Mrs. Wodiska earned a double major in Economics and Political Science from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. She was an Economic Policy Scholar at the American University in Washington, DC.  Mrs. Wodiska also earned a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Mrs. Wodiska was the first female Class Valedictorian at the GWU School of Political Management. 

Subject matter expertise

Education, workforce, aerospace, tax, federal and state government, lobbying, political leadership, message, strategy, federalism, crisis management, and campaigns and elections.

Available for speaking engagements, lectures, and strategic advice. 

Education

• B.A., Economics & Political Science (Concordia College, MN)
• Economic Policy Scholar (American University, DC)
• M.A. Political Management (George Washington University, DC)

Research Interests

• Lobbying
• Gubernatorial authority
• K-12, Higher Education, and Workforce Policy
• State budgets, spending, and tax

Affiliations

• Member, Board of Directors, NC-SARA.
• Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Virginia Space Flight Academy
• Former, Chair, College Laboratory Committee, Virginia State Board of Education
• Former, Vice President, Virginia State Board of Education
• Past President, Virginia School Boards Association

Courses

• Lobbying - POLI 330

Awards

• Child Advocate of the Year - Virginia PTA
• Valedictorian, GW Graduate School of Political Management