Legion of Honor

Steven S. Cotton has served the University since 1997. As the senior legal and regulatory officer for American National University, Mr. Cotton is actively involved in all facets of its operations, drawing on prior experience in education management, finance, financial aid, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and education policy.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Denison University, a Juris Doctor from Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University, and served a fellowship in Legal Medicine at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. After serving in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Navy, he entered the private sector and, soon thereafter, higher education.

Mr. Cotton regularly attends Department of Education, NASFAA, and NATTS/CCA/APSCU/CECU conferences, and has represented the university in state, regional, and national capacities — tirelessly advocating on behalf of the university and its students.

Carl Robertson has served as comptroller for American National University since 1997. A three-time ANU graduate, he holds associate's and bachelor's degrees in business administration-accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Carl has more than 40 years of experience in finance and accounting, over 25 in higher education, and holds a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certificate and a CPA license from the Virginia Board of Accountancy. He joined the accounting department in 1995 and advanced to comptroller, where his knowledge of institutional finance has been crucial to the well-being of the university.

A member of the ANU Hall of Achievement, Carl is the epitome of ANU's vision of educating people for long-standing career success.

Chuck Steenburgh was with American National University for nearly two decades — vice president of communications from 2004 to 2015 and vice president of marketing and communications from 2015 to 2022. An award-winning teacher, writer, and photographer, he holds a Bachelor of Science from the Virginia Military Institute and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.

He served on higher education boards and committees at the national and state levels, participated in over a hundred campus events, won multiple regional and national awards for National News magazine, and helped develop ANU's Evolution 2086 statement. His biggest accomplishment is telling the story of ANU's graduates — personally interviewing hundreds and publishing thousands of their stories.

Chuck's work guided ANU through many trends and changes, and his leadership created the voice of the institution in the media.

Dr. Michael Campbell epitomizes what it means to be a truly great teacher. Nearly 20,000 students benefitted from his instruction and guidance over almost forty years at American National University. He is well known in the Roanoke Valley as a respected grammarian and an authority on Shakespearean literature — and as a gentle soul who cares deeply for his students.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Tech and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He taught at Virginia Tech before joining what was then National Business College in 1976, retiring in 2015.

Even after retirement, students called on Dr. Campbell for references, advice, and tutoring, which he provided using the University's facilities.

Dick Wood received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maine and a Master of Arts from United States International University, and served 21 years as a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of Commander.

Joining ANU as an admissions representative in 1979, he was quickly appointed campus director in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1984 he was named president and chief operating officer for Kentucky Business College and Fugazzi College, a post he held for 15 years. After “retiring” in 1999, he continued part-time for about 10 years, instrumental in locating and opening new campuses.

He served on the boards of — and as president of — the Virginia Career College Association, the Kentucky Association of Career Colleges and Schools, and the Tennessee Association of Independent Colleges and Schools, and as vice chairman of the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. His service was instrumental in transforming the institution from a college to a university.

Ron Smith has worn many hats since starting on August 15, 1976: Admissions Representative; Assistant Director of Admissions (1977–1982); Director of Admissions (1988–1993); Director of International Programs (1993–2003); Director of Admissions and International Programs (2003–2015); Admissions Representative for the University of Fairfax (2016–2017); and International Agent Relations Coordinator.

Over 40 years, Ron has enrolled thousands of domestic and international students from more than 126 countries, traveled to over 14 countries for the University, and even enrolled parents and grandparents of current students.

His honors include 6 Golden Eagle Awards, 55 Admissions Representative of the Term awards, 4 Chairman's Awards, Staff Member of the Year (1995), the University's inaugural Distinguished Service Award (2005), and a 2013 “Difference Maker” profile.

Larry Steele improved the lives of thousands of students while serving as financial aid director of admissions, regional director of admissions, and international admissions officer. His hard work and dedication made him a key factor in ANU's growth across multiple states.

“We train admissions representatives to look at the vision of what the prospective student wants in their life and then show how the college can get them to that point. We always tell the representatives to remember that we are not for everyone.” Steele began his life's work at ANU and retired after 30 years of service.

As director of quality assessment for four years, Annie Counts supervised accreditation standards for eight Virginia campuses; as director of state agency and accreditation compliance and approvals, she did the same for the University's 30 campuses. She received the ANU Distinguished Service Award in 2012.

Annie holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from West Virginia University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Hollins University. A long-time Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce volunteer, she received the Judy Griesenbrock Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2011 and was chosen for Leadership Roanoke Valley.

Her other roles at ANU included admissions representative and campus director, over 26 years of service.

Lenora Downing was vice president of ANU's Virginia–West Virginia Division from 1997 to 2015. A three-time graduate of the University, she earned her bachelor's degree in business management in 1993 and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Hollins University in 1997.

After working in banking, she joined ANU's administration in 1989, serving as executive director of administrative services and director of institutional research and reporting, among other roles. She has served on numerous boards and commissions, including as president of the Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation and the Salem Rotary Club.