Welcome to Virginia's World

Hello, let me introduce myself. My name is Virginia Gensheimer DeGiorgi. I was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1957. I have one sister; Elizabeth, The Renaissance Faire Junkie. I attended St. Benedicts, St. James, Highland Junior High and Atherton High School. One year during summer school I had a revelation - I wanted to be an engineer. I followed that dream by attending the Speed Scientific School at the University of Louisville. I graduated with my Masters in Civil Engineering in 1980.

Then my travels began - I took a position with Westinghouse in Tampa, Florida. The job moved me to Pensacola, Florida after a couple of years. A very supportive management at work provided me the opportunity to complete my formal education. I was nominated for and won the 1983 B. G. Lamme Scholarship. (Brief break for bragging - I was the first woman nominated for this scholarship, the first to win it and the youngest person to win it at the time.) This corporate scholarship enabled me to earn my Ph.D. at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. (I lived in Dallas for a year working on my qualifiers and classwork, then I completed my research work while in Pensacola). I completed my Ph.D. in 1986.

My travels continued - I took a position in the Washington, DC area. Now my traveling is done as part of my job. Soon after moving to the DC area I met my husband Johnnie.

I tend to be a mix of 'high tech' and 'high touch.' My hobbies deal with animals and low tech activities (such as curling up with a good book in front of a wood burning stove).

In Tampa, my apartment was too empty - so I collected 2 cats. Mesha and Trina. Mesha died 9 years ago - Trina just passed away this past summer at 16. The cat collection now numbers 4 - Murfee (a stray found during a thunderstorm at a hotel in Murfeesboro Tennessee, Tiger (a refugee from a stable), Lucky (a black and white cat from the local humane society) and Xena (solid black, also from the local humane society). In the past two years we have lost Eli (a solid black refuge from a stable) and Rags (originally a stray that showed up on our property in Nanjemoy). Eli started his life with us when I was single and lived in Alexandria. His other name was 'Blackie' - Xena acts almost exactly like he did, very similar personalities.

Murfee, the alpha animal of the household

In Pensacola I fulfilled a life long dream which changed my life. I bought my first horse - Beau's Perfection J (aka Dixie). She passed away 11 years ago and I still miss her. Currently my husband and I own 2 horses - Dandy (Chief's Red Dandy) a Tennessee Walker like Dixie and Pepper (her registered name is really Pepper, nothing fancy) a Spotted Saddle Horse.

Dandy at one of his favorite activities

Johnnie and Pepper practicing bridge crossing

Johnnie and Pepper getting ready for a Christmas parade

So - I work in a high tech career, exploring the world of material behavior and smart materials. I spend my free time riding or just relaxing with the cats. I'm married.

Is that all? Not quite. We currently have 3 large house dogs - 2 shepherds and a labordor retriver. The shepherds have their own page! K9 Search and Rescue. Seawolf, the laborador, is my house-pet. He searches and rescues food.		Nicki (6 years) and Cherokee (5 months) in 1/1998.
Johnnie and three of the guys in 1994. From left to right: Blackhawk, Seawolf and Nicki. Cherokee was born in 1997.		Seawolf

I am also active in several organizations. Two which are near and dear to me are Federally Employed Women and the American Business Women's Association.