Board of County Supervisors

Chair Deshundra Jefferson is drawn to the eye of the storm. A former reporter, Chair Jefferson initiated an investigative series that held local officials accountable to those they were elected to serve. But her favorite assignment was chasing tornados.

She brings that same tenacious spirit to Prince William County where she assumed office on January 1, 2024, making history as the first person of color to serve as Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

A single mom, Chair Jefferson lived in a one-bedroom apartment with her son so that she could save up for her first home. She made that dream come true when she moved to Prince William County.  

Chair Jefferson often refers to Prince William as "a hidden gem," thanks to its proximity to its nation’s capital, strong school system, and cultural diversity. She ran for office to address the rising cost of living, prioritize education in the county’s budget, and create more opportunities for affordable homeownership.  

Earlier in her career, Chair Jefferson wrote for CNN/Money (now CNN/Business), the Associated Press, New York Magazine, and other major news outlets. She spent time working on Capitol Hill where she fought to preserve voting rights, expand access to rural broadband, and protect federal funding for education.

Chair Jefferson serves on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). She is a graduate of Leadership Prince William and the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program.

Chair Jefferson graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University and a master’s degree in communication from Johns Hopkins University.