The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 29

women
I
n our vibrant community, age over 50 is not
just a number; it's a source of inspiration. Five of our writers
introduce you to just a few local women who are making
lasting impacts and living life to the fullest. Thank you to so
many who are creating space for even more women to make
their mark and inspire others!
written by Dan Smith
DINA IMBRIANI, 58
Owner Mountain Shepherd Adventure
School
It took a while for Dina Imbriani to find her niche
and to overcome a challenging childhood, but she
did. Today she is a leader, a teacher and a role model
with her outdoor survival school in Craig County.
Imbriani was born in California but landed in Roanoke in the seventh
grade. While she had absentee parents, her friends all but adopted her
and made her early years not just bearable, but good. " People took me
in, fed me and I called them 'Mom' and 'Dad,' " she says.
She wound up with a good education (five colleges, degree from Mary
Baldwin) and worked as a trainer ( " I always found a way to train people " )
and ad manager (Roanoke Times). Finally, her ex-husband, a nationallyrenowned
outdoor survival expert, worked with her and she became
an expert and opened her school. " It was a perfect fit for me, " she says.
SHERRY QUINLEY, 62
Advertising Account Executive for
TV, Print and Internet, Regional
Obituaries Executive
It takes Sherry Quinley quite a spell to outline what
she does professionally and in the end you realize it
is constantly changing shape. She is in demand because she is extraordinarily
effective.
She has worked in media almost constantly during her career, selling
ads, writing, photographing, training, directing and often " figuring out
how to create a product that doesn't exist, " she says. Quinley recognized
early that " everything is connected. " She has also been a teacher (her
retired husband was in education).
Her goal: " Trying to be more relevant, figuring out how I can make
life better " for herself and others. " I'm not finished, " she says emphatically.
" I don't know what the next chapter will be, but I didn't know what this
chapter was going to be, either. "
FRAN FERGUSON, 65
Executive Director Salem Museum
The iconic McClung Lumber in Salem is Fran
Ferguson's heritage, but she has always made her
own way, whether programming computers at the
Pentagon, running museums, developing an email
system for the Marine Corps, writing management proposals for an
architectural firm, working for Public TV, taking a " horrible job " with
TheRoanoker.com
CSX Railroad, writing for a notable business magazine and just " bopping
around every couple of years. "
The job with the Salem Museum represents " coming home, " she says.
" This was a village where everybody raised each other's children and
took care of each other. " The museum emphasizes that but does not shy
away from the difficult stories many communities try to hide. She was a
journalist at one time and retains that journalistic feel. " History explains
why things are as they are, " she emphasizes.
" We've made a conscientious effort to weave African-American history
in Salem through our narrative. " And that has had a positive impact.
MELANIE ALMEDER, 59
John P. Fishwick Professor of
Literature and Creative Writing,
Roanoke College
It didn't take long for Melanie Almeder to know
what she wanted to do with her life. " After about
8, I was reading nonstop, " she says. " Mark Twain was a revelation. " And
she was on her way to a teaching and award-winning writing career. She
joined Roanoke College in 1999.
She was raised in Atlanta, but home is " mostly Maine. " She has
degrees from UVa, University of Massachusetts and a PhD from the
University of Florida. All that reading and writing " developed me as a
person " and a teacher. She won Virginia's Teacher of the Year, Roanoke
College's top teaching award, literary awards and became one of the
most beloved teachers in Roanoke College history.
Her most cherished accomplishment is the Fishwick professorship
because she so admires the entire Fishwick family. She is still expanding
her reach and inventing her life, she says.
written by Ashley Wilson Fellers
CHRIS BRYANT, 68
Urban Forest Advocate
One thing is for certain: Chris Bryant loves trees.
Over the last decade, she's dedicated hundreds of
hours - perhaps even thousands - to volunteering
and leading with the Roanoke City Tree Stewards,
Trees Roanoke and the Roanoke Master Gardeners. On any given week,
you might find her planting, pruning and watering street trees, helping
raise funds to plant more or publicly advocating for the city's urban forest.
" Trees are so important for so many things aside from just being
beautiful, " says Bryant. " They help us clean the air, sequester carbon,
provide food and shelter for bees and birds and mammals ... A tree can
do so much to help us correct the problems of climate change. "
This year, Bryant has advocated for Roanokers to make 2024 " The
Year of the Tree " - a chance to raise awareness about the urban forest's
importance. She hopes residents of all ages will plant more trees across
the valley ... and protect and care for the ones they already have by
removing ivy, vines and other invasives.
" I want to see us plant as many public trees as we can properly maintain,
and also encourage good building regulations that helps us plan for
MARCH/APRIL 2024 29
DINA, SHERRY AND FRAN: DAN SMITH / COURTESY OF ROANOKE COLLEGE / DAVID YOUNGBLOOD
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker March/April 2024

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