Meet the Team
Ridge Schuyler | Dean, Community Self-Sufficiency Programs | rschuyler@pvcc.edu
Ridge serves as dean of Piedmont Virginia Community College’s two Community Self-Sufficiency Programs (Network2Work @PVCC and TJACE @PVCC) which utilize multiple resources in our community to identify and support people being left behind in our economy, and provides the training and supports they need to find quality employment in our community.
He graduated from the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia School of Law. Ridge spent 10 years on Capitol Hill serving as chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher and chief policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Charles S. Robb of Virginia. In 2011, Ridge published the Orange Dot Report which analyzed the economic struggles facing a considerable portion of Charlottesville’s families and suggested solutions. Ridge founded and directs the Charlottesville Works Initiative, a partnership between the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and Piedmont Virginia Community College, to implement those solutions.
Malena L. Smith | Office Manager/Financial Assistance Administrator| msmith@pvcc.edu
Malena joins Network2Work having twelve years of experience working at the college in various roles, including
previously managing PVCC's culinary campus at the Jefferson School City Center. While there she also obtained
her Associates degree in Culinary Arts. Malena also has an extensive thirty year background in executive and office
management. Having served as the human resource manager for several years at an adolescent mental and
behavioral health hospital, Malena fully adopted the moto of circumstances do not define a person. She is excited to
join Network2Work and be a part of a collective team who shares this same outlook. Malena strives for excellent
customer service and is eager to be a part of helping our job seekers understand they too can overcome anything
and make successful life and career changes.
In her spare time Malena enjoys growing her photography portfolio specializing in nature and historical architecture. She is heavily involved in animal advocacy and prior to the pandemic was an active member of a community emergency management animal response team. She also has a small farm where she cares for seventeen abused, neglected, and disabled farm and companion animals.
