EDUCATION

Lisa Louise Lucas-Burke is a product of Portsmouth Public Schools, graduating from Manor High School in 1981, where she was a member of the Concert and Marching Mustangs Band.  Lisa was introduced to society as a 1981 Eureka Debutante. 

Lisa attended Norfolk State University (NSU) in June 1981 and was active with the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) for two years.  She served as an Engineering Aide intern with NASA (Hampton, VA – Summer 1985).  Lisa earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronics Engineering (NSU - May 1987) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from NSU in December 2016.  The Master of Arts, Community Psychology is a future goal.

EMPLOYMENT

Lisa began employment as a Computer Operator with the City of Portsmouth’s Data Processing Department in January 1988 and was promoted to Programmer (July 1993) and Analyst (July 1998).  During that time, Lisa was the only African American female to obtain the position of Computer Programmer Analyst in the City of Portsmouth’s Information Technology Department. Lisa joined her family business as Program Director (October 2000). She currently serves as Executive Director and partners with her mother and sister with Lucas Lodge entities operating at Lucas Professional Center in Portsmouth.  Lisa also enjoys her private business opportunity serving as a Mary Kay beauty consultant since 1994.

FAMILY

Lisa is the firstborn daughter of Senator L. Louise Lucas and the late Otis M. Lucas.  Lisa has one sister, Theresa Lynn Lucas Lamb, and one brother, the late Jeffrey Lee Lucas, Sr. Lisa is married to Herbert Burke from Virginia Beach (June 2000), and they have one adult daughter Demesha. 

AWARDS

Outstanding Young Woman of America 1988; Virginian-Pilot, Heroes Among Us January 1999; Portsmouth PAN Hellenic Greek Honors Award for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Portsmouth Chapter) 2009.  Hampton Roads Wall of Fame Calendar 2012; Epsilon Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Hugo A. Owens Humanitarian Award January 2012.  Lisa was the top vote-getter in the 2016 Portsmouth City Council race, where she obtained 21,355 citizens votes to win her seat on the Portsmouth City Council; Alumnae Soror of the Year (2018) for the South Atlantic Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

•Diamond Life Member, Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  (1996-Life), President (2008–2012); Parliamentarian (2012-2016); Journalist (‘18-’20)

•Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Steering Committee: (2007-Present): Positions Held: Secretary and Treasurer 

•Portsmouth Democratic Committee (2007-Present): Secretary, 2nd V.P., 1st V.P. (2017)

•Girls Incorporated of Southwest Hampton Roads Board of Directors (2006-2013) Treasurer (2007- 2010), President (2010 – 2013) 

•Vann H. Lefcoe Leadership Class of 2013, Lefcoe Trustee (2013-Present)

•Portsmouth Partnership Board of Directors (2014-2017)

•Portsmouth Economic Development Authority (EDA) 2010, Vice Chair (2013-2014), Chair (July 2014 – 2016)

•Certified Candidate for Portsmouth City Council (2016); Member Portsmouth City Council (2017-2020); Vice Mayor (2019-2020) &(2023-2024)

RELIGION

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church (2011-Present)

HOBBIES

Lisa enjoys aerobics & fitness exercises (Wii); art collecting; poem writing; playing the flute & saxophone, an assortment of music genres, and vacationing with her husband, Herb.