Staff Report

Suffolk Publications has named Luefras S. Robinson the new Managing Editor, overseeing the newsroom operation of the News-Herald, effective today.

Robinson brings almost 15 years of experience spanning news reporting, social services/workforce development, public relations and marketing. A native of Chuckatuck where she continues to reside, Robinson is a graduate of the former John Yeates High School and Radford University in Radford, Virginia. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism (news/editorial) and Speech (TV/radio).

&uot;We’re excited to have Luefras heading up our news effort,&uot; publisher Andy Prutsok said Wednesday. &uot;She knows Suffolk and her enthusiasm and leadership will greatly enhance our coverage.&uot;

At Radford, Robinson wrote for the school’s Tartan newspaper and later became the style editor. After graduating in 1992, she took her first full-time job at the Suffolk News-Herald covering education, which later evolved into government, crime, courts and features prior to her departure in 1998.

Robinson then ventured into public relations, working at the Norfolk-based STOP Organi-zation, a regional community action agency. She later became the Coordinator for Special Programs, overseeing STOP’s Center for Employment Training in Suffolk. Her next position was at Newport News Social Services where she worked as a social worker/case manager, and continued part-time as a contributing writer for the News-Herald.

Lastly, prior to returning to the News-Herald full-time this year as sales manager in the Classified Department/Call-Center, Robinson was the Marketing Director at Old Dominion University’s Information Tech-nology Program (ITPro). For the past six months, she has been employed as the sales manager in the News-Herald’s Classified Department/Call Center. Now, Robinson is heading back the newsroom, and covering her hometown.

&uot;I am anxious to again dive into the issues affecting Suffolk residents,&uot; said Robinson, &uot;and to continue exploring ways to enhance our hometown coverage.&uot;

When she’s not working and spending time with her 9-year-old daughter, Quiana, Robinson can be found on various stages performing contemporary gospel and Christian jazz on the saxophone.

She is a member and minister at Mt. Calvary, The Holy Church of God in Smithfield, which was founded by her parents, the late Pastors Corine W. and James E. Robinson Sr.