Virginia Ann Foxx, born on June 29, 1943, in the Bronx, New York, is a U.S. Representative and Chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of North Carolina system. Prior to her political career, she worked as a research assistant and English instructor at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute and Appalachian State University, and served as president of Mayland Community College from 1987 to 1994. She is married to Tom Foxx. Elected as a Republican to represent North Carolina's 5th congressional district starting in 2005, her district covers much of rural northwestern North Carolina, including most of Greensboro. In 2006, she became the first member of her congressional freshman class to author major legislation signed into law. She has held significant leadership roles, including Secretary of the House Republican Conference (2013-2016), chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Labor (various terms 2017-2025), and since 2025, chair of the House Rules Committee and dean of North Carolina's congressional delegation.