From January 2018 to 2022 Pamela Northam used her experience as a former pediatric occupational therapist and science educator to lead the Northam Administration’s work to increase access to quality early childhood care and education. Funding for the Virginia Preschool Initiative more than doubled and capacity grew to a record number of students, adding three-year-olds for the first time ever.
Previously, the First Lady served as community outreach coordinator for the environmental nonprofit Lynnhaven River NOW (LRN), where she oversaw advocacy and outreach programs for homeowners, congregations, and businesses to help them to become more sustainable. Prior to joining LRN, Mrs. Northam taught high school biology. Recognizing a need for STEM in elementary education, she became a national award-winning science specialist and worked to develop an inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum for students in grades K through 5.
Mrs. Northam chaired both the Virginia Children’s Cabinet and the Virginia STEM Education Commission, and is currently a board member of Wetlands Watch, and Minus 9-5 at Eastern Virginia Medical School.