President's Position Announcement

Virginia Tech, one of the nation’s leading public research universities and a flagship land-grant institution, seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as its next president. At a pivotal moment in its trajectory, Virginia Tech is poised to expand its national prominence, deepen its research impact, and further define the role of a modern land-grant university in addressing society’s most complex challenges.

With an operating budget of $2.5 billion, an endowment of over $2 billion, and a rapidly growing research enterprise approaching $700 million, Virginia Tech serves more than 38,000 students across nine colleges and offers over 280 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. The University consistently ranks among the top public universities in the United States, advancing knowledge and discovery that address pressing challenges across the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world. Guided by its enduring motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech is widely recognized for its academic excellence, collaborative culture, commitment to service, exceptional student experience, and athletic distinction. Virginia Tech is one of three public universities in the country with both an active Corps of Cadets that has a mission to produce ethical leaders and a “civilian” lifestyle on its campus.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant institution, Virginia Tech has built a national reputation for integrating teaching, research, and engagement in service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. This legacy continues to shape key institutional priorities such as Virginia Tech Advantage, a university-wide commitment to ensure financial accessibility and student success, as well as Virginia Tech Global Distinction, an initiative to elevate the University’s national and international standing through scholarly excellence, faculty distinction, and high-impact research. Together, these efforts reflect a broader ambition: to expand opportunity while advancing discovery that improves the human condition.

Virginia Tech’s 2,600-acre main campus in Blacksburg anchors a broad and expanding institutional footprint across Virginia and around the globe. The University is making significant strategic investments in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, positioning itself at the nexus of technological innovation, national security, and federal policymaking. This presence offers unparalleled opportunities to strengthen partnerships across government, industry, and academia. Additional assets include the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, a statewide network of research and extension facilities, and a robust global presence with programs and partnerships spanning Europe, South America, and Asia with more than 80 leading universities worldwide. This distributed model enables Virginia Tech to operate as both a deeply rooted and globally engaged institution.

The next president of Virginia Tech will lead a complex, multi-campus institution entering a period of significant opportunity and transformation. Building on a strong foundation, the president will be expected to articulate and execute a bold vision that advances Virginia Tech’s position among the world’s leading public research universities. Key priorities for the next president include:

Advancing Academic and Research Excellence – strengthen and expand the University’s research enterprise, particularly in areas of national and global importance such as emerging technology (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, etc.), national security, health sciences, and sustainability.
Championing the Land-Grant Mission – expand access, affordability, and student success while preserving Virginia Tech’s core commitment to service and community impact.
Support Competitive and Principled Athletics – champion a strong and nationally competitive athletics program that reflects Virginia Tech’s values and promotes student-athlete success. In an evolving college athletics landscape - including increasing financial, regulatory, and operational complexity – the president will ensure that Virginia Tech athletics is strategically positioned and appropriately resourced.
Leveraging Strategic Geography – maximize the university’s growing presence in the Washington, D.C. region to deepen engagement with federal agencies, policymakers, and industry leaders.
Fostering a Cohesive Community – engage meaningfully with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external stakeholders to sustain a culture of collaboration, shared purpose, and excellence.
Leading Institutional Advancement – serve as a compelling ambassador for Virginia Tech and drive a high-performing, ambitious fundraising enterprise.

Virginia Tech seeks a leader with experience, judgment, and credibility to guide a complex public institution and deliver results aligned with its mission. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

A visionary leader with proven executive leadership experience in a large complex organization
A distinguished record of achievement in academia, industry, government, or a related field
A demonstrated record of successful fundraising and strong partnership development
Proven success in strategic planning, resource management, and organizational leadership
Commitment to student success, access, and the obligations of a public land-grant institution
The ability to work effectively with governing boards, elected officials, and public stakeholders
A demonstrated commitment to the principles of shared governance and respect for the distinct roles of the students, staff, faculty, administration, and governing board
Integrity, sound judgement, and a results-oriented leadership style

An earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree is required.

Additional Information

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