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A Roanoke reawakening
The Roanoke area is anything but sleepy when it comes to economic development these days. In fact, “the opportunity for Roanoke is greater now than it has been in quite some time,” says John Hull, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, a public-private joint venture that works to attract new business to the region. […]
Education
MAKOLA M. ABDULLAH PRESIDENT, VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, ETTRICK While many college presidents enjoy basketball, few have Abdullah’s moves. In March, a video of him tying up an opponent went viral, receiving millions of views and appearing on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” Abdullah has overseen dramatic turnarounds at Virginia State University since he became its 14th president in […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports
TONY BENNETT DEAN AND MARKEL FAMILIES MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH, VIRGINIA CAVALIERS MEN’S BASKETBALL, CHARLOTTESVILLE The University of Virginia men’s basketball team fell victim to a positive COVID-19 test in March, forcing it to withdraw from the ACC Tournament — a “gut punch,” Bennett called it. The team was cleared in time to play in […]
Va. Tech’s College of Business dean to retire
Robert T. Sumichrast, the Richard E. Sorensen Chair and dean of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business since 2013, announced his retirement Tuesday. Sumichrast will stay through the end of the current academic year. Virginia Tech will start an international search for his successor this fall. He began his academic career as an assistant professor […]
Virginia Tech names chief administrative officer
Virginia Tech has hired Charlene Casamento as its associate vice president for enterprise administrative operations, effective July 30, the university announced Wednesday. Casamento will work alongside Virginia Tech’s leadership, serving as the university’s chief administrative officer and executing university operational initiatives. She reports to Dwayne Pinkney, the university’[...]
Va. Tech Graduate School appoints next dean
Virginia Tech has named Aimée Surprenant of Memorial University of Newfoundland as the next dean of its graduate school, effective Sept. 1. Surprenant will lead the Graduate School’s budgetary, admissions and program development operations. She will serve as a member of the executive vice president and provost’s leadership team and as an adviser to graduate […]
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[...]
