Representative Virginia Foxx represents the 5th district of North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dr. Foxx grew up in Avery County, North Carolina, and attended Crossnore High School. She went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1968 and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1972 and 1985 with a M.A. in college teaching and a doctorate in education, respectively.
Dr. Foxx worked as a research assistant and then an English instructor at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute and Appalachian State University, before moving into university administration, which included serving as president of Mayland Community College.
During North Carolina Governor James G. Martin’s administration, Dr. Foxx served as Deputy Secretary for Management in the North Carolina Department of Administration. In 1994, she was elected to the North Carolina State Senate, where she served for a decade. In 2004, Dr. Foxx was elected to represent North Carolina’s 5th congressional district.
In the 118th Congress, Representative Foxx serves as Chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. She also sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
Spanning North Carolina’s northwestern High Country, the 5th Congressional district has directly experienced significant flooding in recent years. In October 2017, the town of Boone was hit with historic flash floods from torrential downpours that damaged dozens of residences, submerged vehicles, and shuttered businesses. In August 2021, Boone again saw intense flooding as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred brought heavy rains to Watauga County, ultimately leading to a governor-declared state of emergency.
Mrs. Foxx lives in Banner Elk, North Carolina, with her husband, Tom.
The American Flood Coalition is an IRS Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The American Flood Coalition is not a Congressional Membership Organization and nothing on this website shall be read to imply official sponsorship by either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate or any of their respective Members. Federal Champion is an honorary title awarded by the American Flood Coalition to recognize Members of Congress who have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.
