Central Nova News

Alexandria City Manager James Parajon has announced that Deputy City Manager Debra Collins will retire on July 1 after serving the City of Alexandria for 19 years.

“I am grateful for Debra’s years of service, which have shaped nearly every aspect of daily life in our City,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “The impact of her dedication to Alexandria and her work to keep Alexandria safe and help families thrive in our community will continue to be felt for many years to come. I wish her all the best in retirement.”

Collins joined the City in September 2003, as the Director of Alexandria’s Department of Human Services. She came to Alexandria after serving as the Second Deputy Commissioner for the Erie County Department of Social Services in Buffalo, New York for eight years. Prior to that role, she spent several years in the nonprofit sector, focused on at-risk youth services, re-housing assistance, and transitional housing for people affected by domestic violence and substance use disorders.

During her career in Alexandria, Collins became Assistant City Manager after spearheading the consolidation of three City agencies, including the Department of Human Services, into the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). Later, she became a Deputy City Manager, responsible for the oversight of the City’s public safety agencies (Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Fire Department, Department of Emergency Communications), DCHS, the Department of Human Resources, the Office of Human Rights, and the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities.

She served as the City Liaison to the Health Department, Commonwealth's Attorney, Court Service Unit, the Alexandria Library, and the Sheriff's Office. She was also responsible for all City grant funding to nonprofits and functions as the City's lead staff to the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).

Collins’ significant accomplishments include the recent consolidation and co-location of all DCHS into one facility in Alexandria’s West End to meet the needs of the community and the reinstatement of the City Schools Staff Group. Collins also worked, in partnership with ACT for Alexandria, to create the Center for Alexandria's Children, an advocacy and education center for families, and the Alexandria Council of Human Service Organizations. Additionally, Collins was instrumental in the creation of ACT for Alexandria’s Spring for Alexandria, an annual day of service, and Spring2ACTion, an annual day of giving in support of the City’s nonprofit organizations. 

“Debra has led and supported so many important programs and initiatives that directly affect Alexandrians,” said City Manager James Parajon. “She has held a variety of critical roles in her nearly two decades of service in Alexandria, leading our social services, public safety departments, and recreation programs, among other key functions. I am grateful for her leadership and her work to make the city better for multiple generations of Alexandrians.”

Effective July 1, Interim Deputy City Managers Kendel Taylor and Jean Kelleher will continue in their acting roles while a national executive search for a new Deputy City Manager takes place.  

For inquiries from the news media only, contact the Office of Communications & Public Information at newsroom@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3969.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please call 703.746.3961 or email genevieve.babecki@alexandriava.gov.

This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4721

Original source can be found here.