Black By God: People Moving the Mountains Spotlight Profile: Jacqueline Proctor

By Traci Phillips | Black By God: The West Virginian

The Woman Ensuring West Virginia’s Seniors Are Not Forgotten

In West Virginia, where the population is aging faster than most states and access to care can depend on geography, transportation, and income, the work of supporting seniors is both complex and urgent. At the center of that work is Jacqueline Proctor, Deputy Commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services, a role she has held since 2014.

For more than a decade, Proctor has helped oversee the state’s lead agency for programs serving older West Virginians. Her work ensures that seniors across all 55 counties have access to information, in-home support, and community-based services that allow them to age with dignity. Quietly and consistently, she has helped shape how West Virginia cares for its elders—and how government shows up for people most at risk of being overlooked.

Building Systems That Serve People

As deputy commissioner, Proctor manages programs designed to support seniors and others served by the bureau, working in coordination with state and federal partners. The bureau’s mission is clear: to be the premier advocate for in-home and community-based services in West Virginia. Under Proctor’s leadership, that mission has remained centered on access, coordination, and accountability.

Her approach reflects a deep understanding that aging policy is not abstract—it directly affects whether people can remain in their homes, stay connected to their communities, and receive the care they need. Proctor’s work bridges administration and advocacy, ensuring that programs are both functional and responsive to real-world conditions in rural and urban communities alike.

That systems-level understanding is informed by a diverse professional background. Proctor is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in radio, television, and film. She later completed the Developing Managers Program at Simmons Graduate School of Management and attended New York University, strengthening her leadership and organizational expertise.

A Career Rooted in Communication and Culture

Before her current role, Proctor served as Deputy Commissioner and Director of Communications for the West Virginia Division of Tourism, where she led public relations strategies and worked with journalists across the country to communicate the “Wild and Wonderful” brand of West Virginia.

She also served as Director of Communications for Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, joining the governor’s senior staff and contributing to statewide messaging and public engagement. Earlier in her career, Proctor held leadership roles with the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, where she oversaw communications and marketing, and as General Manager of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra, managing business, financial, and production operations.

Her professional journey began in public broadcasting and network television, where she rose to become Director of Operations and New Media for Disney/ABC, followed by work as a communications consultant to executives focused on long-term strategy.

Leadership Beyond the Office

Proctor’s impact extends well beyond government roles. She has consistently sought opportunities for community engagement, serving on the Board of Connectors for Create Huntington, where she hosted weekly “Chat and Chews” gatherings to support neighborhood-based initiatives. She was appointed by Governor Manchin to the West Virginia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission, where she continues to serve, and she currently chairs the Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Huntington.

With more than 25 years of experience, Jacqueline Proctor exemplifies what steady, principled leadership looks like in public service. She is a reminder that moving the mountains doesn’t always happen loudly—it happens through systems built with care, communication rooted in trust, and a commitment to ensuring no one is left behind.

That is why Jacqueline Proctor is a vital part of Black By God: People Moving the Mountains—a series honoring Black West Virginians whose leadership strengthens communities, shapes policy, and expands what is possible across the state.