Advisory Board

Dr. Cassandra Stroud Conover served the city of Petersburg from 1991 to April 2017 as the Commonwealth’s Attorney. She began her career in Petersburg in august of 1989 as a n Assistant C Attorney, then briefly went into private practice with the late Paul Bland, Esq.; and subsequently, became the first Black assistant Public Defender in Petersburg before her appointment as Commonwealth’s Attorney. She was the longest elected official for the city at the time of her retirement. Additionally, not only is she the longest serving Commonwealth’s Attorney the city of Petersburg has ever had, she was also the senior ranking Black Female District Attorney in the United States at the time of her retirement.

Cassandra received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Virginia, her Master of Business Administration from Regis University, her Juris Doctor from North Carolina central School of Law; and, her Doctor of Education-Transformational Leadership from Concordia University. She served as an Adjunct Professor at VSU for 14 years teaching Constitutional Law, and as an Adjunct Professor of Business at Bryant and Stratton College.

Anytime you see Cassandra she is adorned with her AKA apparel as she is an active Life Member and Silver Star member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated * (43 years). A member of Chi Omega Chapter, is currently the Mid Atlantic Regional representative to the International Risk Management Committee (2022-2026) and was the Mid Atlantic Region representative to the International Constitution Committee (2018-2022). Although she may be retired from criminal prosecution, Mrs. Conover remains very active, serving as the President of the Rocky Monty Metropolitan, NC Chapter, Continental Societies, Inc.; a Registered Parliamentarian, she is a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians; and the Nash County Democratic Party Chair. A native Lynchburg, Virginia, Mrs. Conover is married to John Conover. Jr, 15 years this November. Together they have a large, blended family of six grown children, 19 ½ grandchildren, and 5 ½ great grandchildren. Cassandra has numerous professional affiliations, community memberships, accomplishments, honors, and awards. A member of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Mrs. Conover serves as a church musician and has served as such in churches from Lynchburg to Chesapeake, since the age 11. With all of that, she has known to say, “I’m just a woman of God, who does what’s right, who is not afraid to stand on her own.” She stands for what is right as she serves God and mankind. If she can help one person as she goes along, as the song goes, then her living shall not be in vain.