Governor-Elect Terry McAuliffe announced on Friday that Anne Holton will become Virginia's Secretary of Education, InTheCapital.com reported.
Holton, an attorney and Harvard graduate, is known in the state as wife of former Governor Tim Kaine and daughter of another ex-governor, Linwood Holton. She was also a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
The former first lady, 55, currently runs the Virginia Community College System, which is a program aimed at helping "young people who are aging out of foster care continue their education."
During her husband's term as governor, Holton prioritized the state foster care system.
"Anne is a living example of the role Virginia schools play in preparing students for future success," McAuliffe said during his announcement at the State Capitol. He added that she "has a parent's perspective on how the schools serve our students and how we can improve them."
The governor-elect also referenced how her family participated in the racial integration of Richmond public schools when her father was governor, enrolling in typically all-black schools.
Holton said that she understands the role that education "can play in lifting young people out of poverty and challenging circumstances and into successful adulthood, successful participation in our workforce" and promised to do her best in protecting "our great schools and to expand, particularly, the promise they hold for these children who far too often are left on the margins of our society."
Though McAuliffe's cabinet secretary nominations need to be confirmed by the General Assembly, governor appointments have never experienced much difficulty passing.
The governor-elect will be sworn into office on January 11.
