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James A. Rothrock, DRS Comissioner
James A. Rothrock is a native of Martinsville, Va., and has been involved with disability advocacy and programming for more than 40 years. Currently he serves as the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services and also holds credentials as a licensed professional counselor. He held executive positions in the Robb, Baliles and Wilder administrations, as well.
Rothrock graduated from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C., and obtained his master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1978. While at VCU, he earned numerous academic and service awards, including the Wade O. Stalnaker Award and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, as well as election to Phi Kappa Phi. In March, 2002, Rothrock received the Outstanding Achievement by an Alumnus Award sponsored by the VCU Department of Rehabilitation Counseling.
Rothrock has worked in a wide array of disability programs at the state level, where his responsibilities included preparing legislation and budgetary actions that expanded the network of services for Virginians with disabilities. He also is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond and the Virginia Executive Institute, and he has several publications on leadership and counseling.
He is a member of several community boards for private, nonprofit organizations in Richmond, including Housing Opportunities Made Equal and Adult Care Services, and was recently named a Deacon at Grace Baptist Church. Rothrock resides in Henrico County, where he lives with his wife, Jane, a management consultant, and his son, Sam, who attends Liberty University.
Aisha Shamburger, M.S., CRC, CRP
Aisha Shamburger is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. Ms. Shamburger’s former work experience includes employment as a case manager with a forensic dually diagnosed population and a vocational rehabilitation therapist in both private and public industries. In addition, she has worked as a part-time therapist for abused youth with psychiatric disorders and a family group facilitator with a research project sponsored through the Center for Disease Control. She currently serves as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Coordinator for Richmond Public Schools. As the ADA Coordinator, Ms. Shamburger is responsible for oversight and required implementation to ensure that all Richmond Public Schools are accessible for people with disabilities. She conducts district-wide training relative to accommodations and disability etiquette. Ms. Shamburger is a published author in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation and is a grant recipient of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR’s) Rehabilitation Research Institute for Underrepresented Populations.
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