Reaching the majors
Reaching the “major league” in academic research boosts Old Dominion University’s clout in attracting top talent and grants, emphasizes the university’s vice president for research. Achieving the R1 research classification “enhances the reputation of the university,” says Morris Foster, and “helps in the talent [re[...]
TCC expands Skilled Trades Academy
Tidewater Community College has kicked off the expansion of its Skilled Trades Academy, adding more space and more courses to its Portsmouth facility. The academy opened in 2019 with 20,000 square feet of space, and currently has three classrooms at 3303 Airline Blvd., which is enough room to hold three to six courses at a [&h[...]
Va. Tech’s Center for Biz Analytics names director
Jennifer Havens has been named director of the Center for Business Analytics at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, the university announced Wednesday. Havens joins Virginia Tech from Amazon.com Inc., where she was an executive coach, shaping organizational strategy and culture and designing the global e-tailer[...]
W&M Law School hires comms, marketing officer
William & Mary Law School has named Doris Taylor as its first chief communications and marketing officer. Taylor began her new role June 12 and has primary responsibility for developing and executing strategic communication plans and initiatives to support the engagement and professional needs of the law school. Taylor was most recently interim director of […]
Virginia Business announces 2023 Va. CFO Awards winners
Virginia Business presented its 2023 Virginia CFO Awards Thursday during the magazine’s annual awards banquet honoring chief financial officers from nonprofits and businesses from across the commonwealth. This year’s Virginia CFO Awards banquet — the largest annual gathering of CFOs in Virginia — was held at The Jeff[...]
Regent University founder Pat Robertson dies at 93
Christian Broadcasting Network founder M.G. “Pat” Robertson, a one-time GOP presidential hopeful and also chancellor, founder and CEO of Regent University in Virginia Beach, died Thursday at age 93, Regent and CBN announced. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved founder,” Regent University Executive [...]
UMW hires new business college dean
The University of Mary Washington named a new College of Business dean, Filiz Tabak, who will start July 10 at the Fredericksburg university, in an announcement this week. She comes from Towson University in Maryland, where she was acting associate dean of its College of Business & Economics most recently. Tabak succeeds int[...]
IALR names EVP of operations
Lynchburg’s assistant city manager, John Hughes IV, has been named executive vice president of operations at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, the institute announced Monday. Hughes started in his new role Thursday. He reports directly to IALR President Telly Tucker and serves as the institute[...]
Small yet mighty
Way back when, Roanoke was a train city — the headquarters for Norfolk and Western Railway and a late-1800s hub for the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. The scenic mountain community, however, has grown into a bustling region with a variety of successful industries, including one standout: health care. With the formation of Virgini[...]
The ol’ college try
Snacks and energy drinks are often the fuel for young entrepreneurs burning the midnight oil while perfecting their pitches and products. But for some University of Richmond students, snacks and energy drinks are their products. Grace Mittl, a 2022 UR graduate, is co-founder and CEO of Absurd Snacks, a food allergy-friendly trai[...]
VCU names new engineering dean
Azim Eskandarian, a Virginia Tech mechanical engineering professor and department head, has been named the next dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering, VCU announced Tuesday. Eskandarian, whose appointment takes effect Aug. 1, will also serve as the William H. Goodwin Jr. Endowed Chair of the enginee[...]
SCHEV director to step down
Peter Blake, the long-time director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), will step down by the end of the year, SCHEV announced Thursday. Blake has been director of SCHEV since 2012. The state higher education agency makes policy recommendations and approves new degree programs and schools within univer[...]