Education: LANCE R. COLLINS

As vice president and director of Virginia Tech’s $1 billion Innovation Campus, which is under development in Alexandria, Collins has helped forge a series of major partnerships in Northern Virginia.

In May 2021, The Boeing Co. committed $50 million to become the first foundational partner to the campus, which is part of a state initiative to produce more graduate students in computer science and computer engineering. Boeing’s multiyear commitment is focused on expanding diversity at the campus and includes a future center to connect veterans and their family members with local employers.

Collins also has partnered with Alexandria City Public Schools to bolster student access to science, technology, engineering and math curriculums.

Before joining Tech in 2020, Collins spent a decade as dean of the College of Engineering at Cornell University. The institution created a fellowship in his name to support engineering graduate students from traditionally underrepresented populations.

Collins serves on the board of trustees for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Foundation and the University of Delaware’s engineering school
advisory board.