RBC Appoints Chief of Staff
For Immediate Release: May 13, 2025
Contact: Jesse Vaughan, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer/jvaughan@rbc.edu
Dr. Debbie Sydow, President of Richard Bland College, recently appointed Dr. Tiffany Birdsong, formerly the RBC Chief Academic Officer, as the College’s new Chief of Staff. The position is effective May 25.
“I am honored to join the President’s Office as Chief of Staff and contribute to Richard Bland College’s mission of academic excellence and student success,” Dr. Birdsong said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the College’s faculty and staff to align resources and strategies with RBC’s bold vision for the future.”
In this role, Dr. Birdsong will oversee the execution of priority strategic initiatives and assume a key role in aligning resources, initiatives and teams to achieve institutional goals.
To develop her executive leadership acumen, Dr. Birdsong participated as an ACE (American Council on Education) Fellow at Randolph-Macon College over the course of the 2024-25 academic year. The Fellows program is one of the nation’s most prestigious professional development opportunities for college and university administrators. At Randolph-Macon, Dr. Birdsong has worked closely with the college’s senior leadership on strategic planning, policy development and executive-level decision making.
“Always guided by her abiding commitment to student success, Dr. Birdsong brings common sense and strategic thinking to all aspects of planning and problem-solving,” RBC President Dr. Debbie L. Sydow said. “Her decade of diverse experience at RBC coupled with her knowledge and skills acquired as an ACE Fellow have equipped Dr. Birdsong well to continue making a lasting impact at Richard Bland College.”
Having served as faculty member, department chair and Chief Academic Officer at RBC since 2015, Dr. Birdsong is dedicated to further enhancing the institution’s unique educational value proposition in the Petersburg community and across the Commonwealth.
“Richard Bland College has been my professional home for nearly a decade, and I’m eager to step into this strategic role during a pivotal moment in the College’s journey,” Dr. Birdsong said.
