Ruth spent her childhood moving from place to place as part of a military family, learning early how to adapt to change. That constant motion disrupted her formal education, but it also instilled a resilience that would later guide her back to the classroom at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), where she found both opportunity and a foundation for lifelong learning.

Already married and raising a family, Ruth began attending NOVA’s Alexandria campus in the mid 80s, balancing full-time work, parenting, and her studies. She took courses in accounting, math, and statistics, subjects that demanded focus and discipline, while navigating the responsibilities of family life. The flexibility of NOVA’s programs and the quality of instruction made it possible for her to succeed during this demanding chapter, with support from her husband and encouragement from dedicated faculty.

Ruth’s time at NOVA laid the groundwork for a successful career in information technology. She spent years working in the field, writing technical manuals and navigating complex systems. But it was an unexpected tragedy, the death of a colleague, that sparked a new way of thinking. A single question of “what if?” gradually evolved into a story, opening the door to a creative path she had never imagined.

After retiring and relocating to Charlottesville, Ruth returned to writing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on her technical background and professional experiences, she began crafting mystery novels set in the 1990s, a deliberate choice that allowed her to ground her stories in a familiar world. Writing under the pen name CV Alba, a tribute to Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Ruth has since independently published four novels, all featuring interconnected characters and storylines.

Ruth credits her community college education with giving her the confidence and skills to pursue new directions later in life. NOVA’s supportive learning environment, smaller class sizes, and smooth transfer of credits to George Mason University reinforced her belief in the value of starting, or restarting, at a community college.

“Community colleges make education possible for people with full lives,” Ruth shared. “They meet you where you are.”

Today, Ruth remains a proud NOVA alumna and a strong advocate for accessible education. She believes deeply in NOVA’s role as a gateway to opportunity for working adults, first-generation students, and anyone seeking a new beginning. Through alumni engagement and continued learning, she stays connected to the community that helped shape her journey.

For Ruth, education was never just about earning credits or credentials. It was about gaining the confidence to imagine a different future, and the tools to make it real. To donors, she says “I would encourage others to support NOVA, it’s an institution that truly makes education accessible and empowers students to succeed.”