The Grapevine: Women of Distinction Event's Guest Speaker, Jill Upson, Highly Respected Across State
By Rosalyn Queen on January 30, 2025 from The Grapevine
Betty Waddy, President of the Progressive Women’s Association has announced that they have been able to secure Jill Upson as the Keynote speaker for the Women of Distinction luncheon. The luncheon will be held at noon on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Uptown Event Center in Clarksburg.
The luncheon is open to the public by reservation.
This event is held in February to recognize Black Culture Month. Ten women of African American heritage will be honored for their involvement by volunteering in our community. The individuals have been nominated by area residents and approved by the PWA Board of
directors.
directors.
Jill Upson is the executive director of the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA). She was appointed to this cabinet-level position in December 2018 after serving for four years as a legislator in the West Virginia House of Delegates. The busy director is also the executive director of the West Virginia Women’s Commission. She received her appointment to this position in September 2022. Upson also serves as chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission.
Having been elected twice to the West Virginia House of Delegates, Upson served as vice chair of banking, in addition to serving on various committees, caucuses, and commissions. Director Upson is an original member of the HOPE Scholarship Board, and also a member of the West Virginia Women’s Suffragist Memorial Committee.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Upson formed and chaired the COVID-19 Advisory Commission on Racial Disparities. She also successfully spearheaded all weekly minority COVID-19 testing sites in multiple locations throughout the state during the height of the pandemic.
Outside of state government, Upson serves on the board of directors at Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. She is also a member of the board of directors at Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council. She is a longtime member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and a regular volunteer at her home church, Crossroads Church in Martinsburg.
Upson has an MBA in Public Administration from Liberty University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Shepherd University. She is currently a doctoral candidate (PhD. ABD) in Public Policy (Education Policy). She is married to retired Navy Commander, Kelvin Upson, who is currently a senior cyber security engineer for a large defense contractor and 24-year professor at the University of Phoenix in the Cyber Security program. She is also the mother of DJ and Chandler.
This year’s guest speaker will enlighten the audience on the Martin Luther King Jr. awards program. She will speak to the honorees about the importance of volunteering and the difference it makes to those individuals in our community.
Rosalyn Queen, chairman of the event said that it is indeed an honor to have been able to secure Upson to be a part of this program.
“I am sure that the honorees and those in Attendance will enjoy Upson’s remarks and come away with a new feeling about their volunteer efforts,” she said.
Since there is limited seating, it is suggested that reservations be made early. For the 10th year Davis Funeral Home, Dave Bolyard, will be the sponsor.
Stay healthy and warm and until next week “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
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