AMY SEBRING 

The Virginia Tech motto — Ut Prosim (from the Latin for “that I may serve”) — was made to order for Amy Sebring, who describes herself as “a servant leader.” In her dual roles as the university’s executive vice president and COO, the Tidewater native and daughter of two civil servants has to keep many plates spinning.

Her lengthy list of responsibilities includes oversight of the school’s administrative, financial, physical, technological and operational infrastructure, as well as support for its teaching, research and outreach missions. And although Sebring didn’t arrive at Virginia Tech until late 2022, she already has chalked up several accomplishments, including helping to secure state support for the expansion of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and has generated significant legislative interest in expanding clinical trials at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

During her 25-plus-year career in government and higher education, Sebring has held a series of positions of increasing responsibility that included stints at both Virginia Commonwealth University and William & Mary.  

“It’s easy to get focused on a to-do list,” she says, but to be successful requires “looking for opportunities to step beyond and bring things forward to decision makers.” Being able to make complex matters readily understandable also has been crucial to her career development.

“Communication,” she says, “is a skill you can never overdevelop.”

RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards