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 student organizations.

“I’m excited to join the team in the Graduate School to continue and advance the great work that is already underway at Virginia Tech,” Surprenant said in a statement. “I’m eagerly looking forward to working with students, faculty and staff to support an equitable and just graduate community that nurtures practitioners, scholars and researchers, and prepares them to be future leaders on the national and global stage.

Surprenant is currently the associate vice president, academic, and dean of the School of Graduate Studies for Memorial University of Newfoundland, which has more than 120 graduate diploma, master’s and doctoral degree programs. She also serves on the board of directors of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies and the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools.

In a statement, Virginia Tech Provost Cyril Clarke said, “Aimée’s strength of leadership and scholarship, and her commitment to collaboration with faculty and students comes at a critical time for our Graduate School and university. I look forward to working closely with her to develop and implement strategies for growth of graduate education in support of our commitment to impactful scholarship.”

Focused on research in the field of psychology, Surprenant has co-authorized two books, “Human Memory: An Introduction to Research, Data, and Theory,” and “Principles of Memory.” She has served as chair of the Scientific Affairs Committee for the Canadian Psychological Association and is active in Science Atlantic and the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science.

She holds a doctorate, and master’s degrees in philosophy and psychology from Yale University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New York University.

She succeeds Karen DePauw, who announced her retirement in January 2020 after 18 years at Virginia Tech.

“I want to thank Dean DePauw for her years of service and invaluable contributions to Virginia Tech,” Clarke said in a statement. “Karen has been a dedicated advocate for graduate students and her impact on the university will be felt for years to come. I wish her all the best in her retirement.”