Region 3 Commissioner 

Meet Your Commissioner 

How have the arts impacted you? 

As a very shy child born in the Commonwealth, music and theatre gave me an outlet to express thoughts and feelings at a very young age. Through exposure to performance-based arts, I was able to develop greater self-confidence to pursue higher education and eventually move into leadership roles such as serving on the Arts Commission. 

How have you seen the arts impact Virginians? 

The arts impact Virginians by giving each citizen in the Commonwealth a means to tell their story. These stories reflect historical events and our cultural identity which help shape our future and preserve our diverse cultural heritage. During the recent pandemic, I witnessed the arts serving as a lifeline for Virginians by providing an outlet to express a wide range of emotions. For many it was their only means to process anxiety in an unprecedented time of uncertainty. Virginians began exploring new artforms to process grief, while focusing on improving mental health. For many, collaborating on their art was a primary human connection to combat loneliness. Through my professional work I have experienced the arts profoundly empowering marginalized groups, in particular people with disabilities and their families. Arts provide a platform by which individuals with disabilities and diversity can showcase their abilities and uniqueness while dispelling myths about limitations from disabilities. 

What would someone be surprised to know about you? 

Others would be surprised to know that I was a clinical Speech Language Pathologist for 30 years. My current position utilizes a host of different skills to direct an organization supporting people with disabilities in the arts. My skills conducting outpatient swallowing studies, speech language evaluations, developed tailored treatment plans, and working with patient families in the delivery of holistic speech treatments are activities that are distinctly different from my current roles and responsibilities. 

If you could be a world class artist, what would you be/do? 

I would be an internationally trained vocalist who performed across the globe. I would use my voice not just to entertain the audiences but to use the stage as a platform to showcase others unique abilities, talents and stories. 

If you could say what your superpower was, what might that be? 

My superpower is the aptitude to see abilities and value in all human beings regardless of gender, age, race, political position, economic background, or disability. We each have a voice and an important story to tell that is unique and diverse. It is powerful to have the gift of visualizing a world where the possibilities are endless. 

---

Jan Monroe earned her B. A. in Communication Disorders from Radford University and her MS Ed. In Speech-Language Pathology from Old Dominion University. Jan has over 30 years of direct care experience, working with children and adults. She was a practitioner in long-term care, inpatient, outpatient, home health, and acute care settings in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Hawaii. She retired from pediatric therapy at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU-Fredericksburg Therapy Center in 2019. Jan is a 2021 graduate of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fredericksburg Program. She was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the Virginia Commission for the Arts (2019-2025 term) and currently serves as the Accessibility Committee Chair. Jan was honored to be co-recipient of the 2022 Darrel Tillar Mason Excellence in Advocacy Award by the Disability Law Center of Virginia. Jan is a co-founder and current Executive Director of STEP VA, Inc.; a non-profit organization serving people with disabilities through the arts.