Sonny Merryman taps new president and CEO
Beginning Aug. 9, Caley Edgerly will take the wheel as president and CEO of Lynchburg bus dealer Sonny Merryman Inc., as current CEO Floyd Merryman III moves into his new role as executive chairman of the family business started by his father nearly 55 years ago. Edgerly previously served as president and CEO of North […]
Virginia snags “Best Business Climate” state ranking
Virginia is the state with the “Best Business Climate” in the nation, according to Business Facilities magazine’s 17th annual State Ranking Report, released Wednesday. Last year, Texas held the No. 1 spot, with Virginia taking second. After falling off Business Facilities’ top 10 list in 2014 and 2015, Virginia placed ninth in 2016, fourth in […]
Three Blacksburg housing complexes sold for $146M
Three off-campus housing complexes in Blacksburg geared toward Virginia Tech students have been sold for $146 million in a deal closed May 5, Berkadia announced Friday. The buyer, California-based Reliant Group, added the portfolio to its earlier purchase of a student housing property near Virginia Tech. According to Montgomery County property records, Reliant Group-connected CAP […]
Boeing makes record $50M gift to Va. Tech Innovation Campus
Aerospace and defense contractor Boeing made a record $50 million, multiyear commitment to foster diversity at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus under development in Alexandria, Virginia Tech announced Tuesday. The largest corporate donation ever made to Virginia Tech, the commitment from Chicago-based Boeing also ties the largest private donation the university has received, the $50 […]
Virginia public colleges can mandate COVID vaccines, Va. AG says
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia colleges are beginning to announce mandatory fall COVID-19 vaccine policies following the state attorney general’s opinion that higher education institutes can require the vaccine. Virginia public colleges and universities can mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for faculty and students returning to campus this fall, Attorney General Mark Herring stated in late April.[...]
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative funds $1M for student cybersecurity projects
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative has allocated $1 million toward experiential cybersecurity projects for students at universities across the state, the organization announced Thursday. The seven projects involve student researchers from George Mason University, Longwood University, Marymount University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wil[...]
Graduation plans vary across Virginia universities
RICHMOND, Va. — College graduations will still look different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but more Virginia universities are returning to in-person ceremonies. Graduations will be held online, in person or a hybrid format. Gov. Ralph Northam announced last month preliminary guidance for graduation events, which continues to be updated. “The acceleration of the vaccine […]
Virginia Tech aims to fill cybersecurity jobs gaps
The U.S. Department of Defense in January awarded Virginia Tech a $1.5 million grant to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity — a field facing a critical shortage of skilled professionals. The need for a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals is regularly emphasized whenever a major hack is uncovered. In December 2020, news of the […]
Virginia Tech replaces economic development office
On Wednesday, Virginia Tech announced that it was replacing its Office of Economic Development with a new Center for Economic and Community Engagement, as part of its commitment to improving the lives of others. The new university-level center will engage with internal and external partners to drive economic growth, address workforce needs and interact with […]
U.Va.-Va. Tech researchers develop promising coronavirus vaccines
Athletic rivals Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia are working together on two new coronavirus vaccines, and their research has shown early promise in protecting people from existing and future variants of COVID-19, according to the universities. Created by U.Va. Health Professor Steven L. Zeichner and Virginia Tech Distinguished Professor X.J. Meng, one vaccine […]
Virginia Tech names new Innovation Campus leaders
Virginia Tech announced Monday that two current employees will take leadership roles in the university’s Alexandria-based Innovation Campus. Robin Jones has been named assistant vice president for Innovation Campus student services, after serving as assistant provost for planning and resource management at Tech. Dannette Gomez Beane has been named assistant vice provost for enrollment manage[...]
Virginia Tech joins Mid-Atlantic Quantum Alliance
Virginia Tech has joined a group of universities, government agencies and national labs in the Mid-Atlantic Quantum Alliance, the university announced this week. Led by the University of Maryland, the 24 members of MQA “are building a vibrant and diverse ecosystem designed to foster U.S. and regional leadership in the coming quantum technology revolution,” including […]