Leila Gordon joined the Reston Community Center (RCC) team in September 1983 as a part-time employee supervising the development of the community center’s arts education offerings. 

In 1984, she went on to direct and expand the agency’s performing arts portfolio. The RCC focused on how to support the community’s local nonprofit arts endeavors and artists within the theatre space. 

Gordon was able to influence the expansion of the technical and administrative staffing and introduce the aspect of the professional touring artists, which soon after turned into an annual series (PTAS), and the expansion of visual art and studios through the RCC located in Lake Anne Plaza. 

After many additional responsibilities, she was named the RCC’s Executive Director in April 2008. Within her passion for art, she became an advocate for the work of ArtsFairfax, joined the Board of Directors in 2008, and was named chair of the Fairfax County Master Arts Plan Task Force in 2011. 

However, after 16 years as the Executive Director Gordon has decided to step down from position effective Thursday, December 13, 2024 in order to proceed with her retirement process. Nonetheless due to the extraordinary impact of Leila Gordon within the RCC, the Board of Governors has decided to rename the 260-seat venue at the Hunters Woods facility (2310 Colts Neck Road) the Leila Gordon Theatre in honor of her legacy and dedication to both RCC and the art department and it’s expansion since 1983. 

Following Gordons departure, the Board of Governors was pleased to announce BeBe Nguyen as next Executive Director of the RCC effective Monday, September 9, 2024. Nguyen has served RCC since 2007 initially as the communications director and In January 2022, she became the RCC Deputy Director. Nguyen noted “I am very excited to step into this role. RCC has been my career and my purpose both.”