New President Named for Virginia Private Colleges
By: Virginia Private Colleges
Christopher K. Peace, former state legislator and practicing attorney, will become 2nd President of CICV in 2023
Richmond, Virginia – The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (“CICV”), an organization dedicated to the support and representation of 27 accredited nonprofit independent colleges and universities in Virginia since 1971, announced today that former state legislator and practicing attorney, Christopher K. Peace, will become the next president of the organization following the conclusion of the 2023 regular session of the Virginia General Assembly.
“I am delighted to announce that Chris will serve as CICV’s new president,” said Dr. Scott D. Miller, chair of the CICV Board of Directors and president of Virginia Wesleyan University. “Chris is at the right spot in his career for this critical role, and he has a strong desire to make an impact and do meaningful work. He is far more than a lobbyist and attorney—he is a strategist with a great grasp of the issues. He carries a reputation as a thoughtful legislator, a relationship builder, avid listener, and problem-solver. I am confident he will bring a fresh approach to CICV and for the future of Virginia’s college graduates.”
Currently, Peace practices law in the metro Richmond region. As a former Virginia state legislator serving in the House of Delegates from 2006 to 2020, Peace represented Hanover, King William, and New Kent Counties. Peace sat on the prominent House Appropriations (state budget) committee where he chaired both the Transportation subcommittee and the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. He completed his legislative service as one of six House members on the consequential Budget Conference Committee. He also chaired the oldest standing committee in the General Assembly, House General Laws, and was a ranking majority member on the Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee. Peace’s extensive legislative work included service on the 2018 Select Special Committee on School Safety, the Joint Commission on Health Care, and the Virginia Commission on Youth (former chair), among others.
Peace’s legislative leadership resulted in meaningful reforms in the areas of child welfare, school safety, and tax reform. He was commended by the Virginia House of Delegates in March 2022 in House Resolution No. 125 as a “faithful public servant who dedicated himself to serving the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth” and “with admiration for his civility, conscience, and leadership.” In addition, many statewide organizations honored Peace for outstanding leadership and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce often recognized Peace as a Champion of Free Enterprise and presented him with various awards in the areas of education and workforce development, and transportation.
In making the announcement, Miller recognized Dr. Tiffany Franks as CICV’s search committee chair, and acknowledged Academic Search, an executive search firm led by President Jay Lemons, for advising the search. Miller also thanked the members of the search committee: Robert Lindgren (Randolph-Macon College), Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar (University of Lynchburg), and Dr. David Olive (Bluefield University).
Tiffany Franks, president of Averett University (VA) and chair of the search committee, said “Chris Peace is uniquely qualified to serve as president, with multi-generational knowledge of the Commonwealth and deep familial ties to CICV member schools. He is an accomplished leader with a real understanding of government and politics in Virginia, having been in every corner and hallway. Importantly, Chris is regarded by Virginia lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as a person who can work in a bipartisan and nonpartisan manner, creating allies and building consensus, and who is a person of courage and conviction.” Franks added, “His extensive knowledge, background, and leadership skills will serve Virginia’s private colleges immeasurably.”
Peace expressed that he very much appreciates the opportunity to serve Virginia’s private colleges, especially for the opportunity to build upon the great success of current president Robert Lambeth, Esq. “The Commonwealth is home to the best collection of institutions of higher education in the nation. CICV’s member institutions contribute greatly to this robust landscape of academic excellence. I’m deeply honored to have been named the next CICV president succeeding Robert, who helped develop and expand the Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) Program for Virginia students. In its time, the program has served over 300,000 students attending Virginia independent colleges and universities. His record of achievement and excellence is remarkable. Succeeding him is a great privilege,” said Peace. Under Lambeth’s leadership, CICV also developed the Virginia Private Colleges Benefits Consortium, a self- insured health insurance program for the employees of CICV institutions.
Virginia’s private colleges are also a prominent part of Peace’s personal story and family heritage. He is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Richmond School of Law, and he grew up near Randolph Macon College where his parents met and his father was a math professor. “Based on my affection for the people and places that comprise Virginia’s private colleges, I am pleased to have the opportunity to give back. A new President should seek to build upon the organization’s record of policy achievements and its shared service model while strategically and collaboratively accessing additional state financial support, advancing new areas of public policy, and identifying cost containment and professional development opportunities for our member institutions,” said Peace.
