Senior Administrator Search Information

Virginia Tech has formed a search committee to oversee a national search for the next dean of the Virginia Tech Honors College.

The dean’s responsibilities include administrative leadership of the Honors College and the capacity to manage a distinctive program in the context of a large, complex institution. The dean should demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and exceptional interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills. Candidates must also have a steadfast commitment to innovation in undergraduate education and a track record of advancing inclusive excellence.

The new dean of the Honors College will replace Paul Knox, who announced his retirement in August after nearly 40 years of service to Virginia Tech.

Pamplin College of Business Dean Saonee Sarker will chair the search committee and guide the application/nomination, candidate review and interview, campus engagement, and finalist selection processes. Search committee members are as follows:

• Saonee Sarker, dean, Pamplin College of Business 
• Natalie Cook, assistant professor, public health; Honors Residential College faculty principal 
• Nikki Lewis, collegiate associate professor; methods lead 
• Christina McIntyre, director of professional development and national and international scholarships 
• Mary Helm, program support specialist, Honors College 
• Anthony "Kwame" Harrison, Alumni Distinguished Professor, Edward S. Diggs Professor in Humanities 
• Jill Sible, associate vice provost for undergraduate education 
• Catherine Amelink, director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning; associate vice provost, Office of the Executive Vice Provost 
• Chris Williams, L.S. Randolph Professor, mechanical engineering 
• Brett Jones, professor, School of Education 
• Dale Pike , associate vice provost, Technology-Enhanced Learning
• Ted Mills, senior principal gift officer, Advancement 
• Taylor Fitchett, alumni representative

The search committee will be supported by a staff from Faculty Affairs that includes Barbara Lockee, associate vice provost for faculty affairs, and Leslie Stevens, project director.

Virginia Tech has engaged WittKieffer to assist with this search and welcomes nominations for the position.

Virginia Tech has announced the committee tasked with overseeing a national search for the next dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment.

As the head of the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE), the dean serves as chief administrative officer of the college and is responsible for strategically leading the college’s academic and administrative operations. CNRE is home to a diverse group of academic and research programs including forestry, forest products, fish and wildlife conservation, and geography, while developing new degree programs and majors, elevating faculty scholarship and expertise, and enhancing facilities and teaching and research capacity.

The new dean will replace Paul Winistorfer, who has announced his retirement effective fall 2025, after 16 years of leadership and service to CNRE and Virginia Tech.

The list of search committee members is as follows:

• Kevin Pitts – search committee chair, dean of the College of Science
• Tim Baird – associate professor, Geography
• Anamaria Bukvic – assistant professor, Geography
• Dan Cleveland, associate vice president, Colleges and Units, University Advancement 
• Kevin Edgar – professor, Sustainable Biomaterials
• Francesco Ferretti – assistant professor, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
• Jennifer Gagnon – coordinator, Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
• Mike Gutter – director, Virginia Cooperative Extension; associate dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Sarah Karpanty – professor, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
• Joe Knight – department head, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
• Stacey Kuhar – executive assistant, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
• Mike Melo – chief executive officer, ITA International
• Garry Morgan – director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, College of Veterinary Medicine
• Patty Raun – Alumni Distinguished Professor, School of Performing Arts
• Bettina Ring – Virginia State Director, The Nature Conservancy
• Maren Roman – professor, Sustainable Biomaterials
• Todd VandeVord – senior financial planning manager, Office of Budget and Financial Planning

The search committee will be supported by a staff that includes Leslie Stevens, project director for Faculty Affairs, and Peggy Vilardo, administrative assistant for Faculty Affairs.

Virginia Tech is partnering with WittKieffer to assist with the search process and receive nominations and applications for the position. The position description and application/nomination process will be posted shortly on the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost website.