Vania is a Chesapeake native and a graduate of Great Bridge High school. Vania went on to graduate from Francis Marion University with a BA in Political Science and Professional Writing. She obtained her law degree from the University of Richmond, TC Williams School of Law in 2001. During law school Vania interned at Virginia Legal Aid and the Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. After graduation, she worked for a small firm practicing family law and estate planning before she moved onto the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Public Defender’s offices. Thereafter she returned to private practice to focus on estate planning. Vania has been very active in the local autism community, having served as president of the Autism Society of Tidewater and as a board member of Project Lifesaver Virginia Beach. She is currently the president of the Southeastern Elementary School PTA. Vania is the proud mother of four, and lives in the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake with her children and two rescue dogs.