Senior Administrator Search Information
Information on current searches, candidates, and campus and community participation in the search process for searches for senior level academic leaders.
Current Searches
Finalist Visit Dates and Open Forums
All open forums available to the public. Presentations will not be recorded.
Jill Sible
Visit Dates: April 28-30
Open Forum: April 29, 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Assembly Hall, Holtzman Alumni Center, or Zoom
Dr. Jill Sible serves as Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Virginia Tech. She earned her BS in Biochemistry from the University of New Hampshire and her Ph.D. in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from Tufts University School of Medicine, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute. After a decade leading a research program in cell biology at Virginia Tech, Dr. Sible transitioned to academic leadership, where she has championed active learning, equitable student outcomes, and transformative undergraduate experiences. She played a key role in redesigning general education through the Pathways curriculum, advancing experiential learning, and leading initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure academic continuity. She has secured over $10M in sponsored research, including major STEM education grants focused on inclusion and equity, and led a $1M Inclusive Excellence Grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. A National Academies of Science Education Fellow, Dr. Sible remains passionate about student-centered learning and academic innovation.
Carlos Jensen
Visit Dates: May 4-6
Open Forum: May 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Assembly Hall, Holtzman Alumni Center, or Zoom
Dr. Carlos Jensen is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational Innovation at UC San Diego, where he leads campus-wide initiatives to transform education through equity, access, and innovation. A champion of experiential learning, Dr. Jensen joined UC San Diego and the Executive Vice Chancellor’s team in 2020, bringing with him extensive leadership experience in public education and a deep commitment to enhancing the student experience. He oversees the Teaching + Learning Commons, a hub for instructional development and academic support, and drives the creation of new academic programs and infrastructures that align with the university’s strategic priorities that include organizational sustainability and student success. Prior to UC San Diego, Dr. Jensen served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University and was a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, his research, situated at the intersection of usability and software engineering, focuses on improving open source software development processes through novel testing techniques.
Michel Pleimling
Visit Dates: May 7-9
Open Forum: May 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Assembly Hall, Holtzman Alumni Center, or Zoom
Dr. Michel Pleimling is a Professor of Physics and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the College of Science. He earned his degrees from the Universität des Saarlandes in Germany and held research positions across Europe before joining Virginia Tech in 2006. A leader in Statistical and Condensed Matter Physics, Pleimling has authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications and a textbook, mentored dozens of students, and earned recognition as a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Beyond research, he has spearheaded numerous educational innovations, including the development of the Integrated Science Curriculum and several interdisciplinary programs, while also receiving multiple teaching awards. Widely active in the global scientific community, he contributes as an editor, reviewer, and advisor to agencies including the European Research Agency and the National Science Foundation.
Announcement
Virginia Tech has announced the committee tasked with overseeing a national search for the next vice provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
The vice provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs works collaboratively with college deans and associate deans to coordinate programs and services that meet the varying needs of a heterogeneous undergraduate student population and encourages the success of faculty and students. They establish and implement short and long-range strategic goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; evaluate and monitor programmatic and operational effectiveness, and effect changes required for improvement.
The new vice provost will replace Rachel Holloway, who has announced her retirement after 36 years of leadership and service to Virginia Tech.
The list of search committee members is as follows:
- Ron Fricker – committee chair and vice provost for Faculty Affairs
- Matt Cowley – associate vice provost for Career and Professional Development, Provost's Office
- Renee Eaton – Undergraduate Program Director, CALS/HNFE
- Ellington Graves – senior associate vice provost, Provost's Office
- Rob Hopkins – assistant vice provost for Analytics and AI, Provost's Office
- Maryam Kamran – director of Inclusion and Diversity, CNRE
- Frances Keene – vice president, Student Affairs
- Leslie Orellana – Undergraduate Representative to BOV, Myers-Lawson/College of Engineering
- Kevin Pitts – dean, College of Science
- Michelle Seref – associate dean for Undergraduate Programs, Pamplin College of Business
- Rick Sparks – associate vice provost and University Registrar, Provost's Office
- Karen Strickler – executive assistant, Provost's Office
- Jim Tokuhisa – assistant professor of Practice, Biological Sciences/COS
The search committee will be supported by a staff that includes Rachel Gabriele, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs, and Catherine Piche, program assistant for Faculty Affairs. Virginia Tech is partnering with its Human Resources Talent Acquisition Team to assist with the search process and manage nominations and applications for the position.
Finalist Visit Dates and Open Forums
All open forums available to the public. Presentations will not be recorded.
Joel Snodgrass
Visit Dates: March 30-April 1
Open Forum: March 31, 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Cascades Room, Inn at Virginia Tech or Zoom
Dr. Joel W. Snodgrass is an academic leader with extensive experience in research, teaching, and administration. He currently serves as the Department Head and Professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech, a position he has held since August 2014. Dr. Snodgrass has a robust academic background, holding a B.S. in Biology from Guilford College, an M.S. in Zoology from the University of Central Florida, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Snodgrass held several key administrative roles before coming to Virginia Tech, including Graduate Program Director and Chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences at Towson University. His leadership at Virginia Tech has been marked by significant achievements, such as increasing grant funding, expanding faculty and staff, and enhancing diversity and inclusion within the department. Dr. Snodgrass's research interests focus on the effects of human-induced landscape changes on aquatic systems. He has secured over $5 million in grants and fellowships, contributing to numerous high-impact publications and presentations. His work has been recognized with various awards and honors, reflecting his commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research and education. Dr. Snodgrass has been actively involved in professional organizations, serving as President of the National Association of University Fish and Wildlife Programs and on the editorial board of several journals. He is dedicated to fostering academic excellence and environmental stewardship, particularly in relationship to natural resources management and conservation.
A. Alonso Aguirre
Visit Dates: April 1-3
Open Forum: April 2, 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Cascades Room, Inn at Virginia Tech or Zoom
A. Alonso Aguirre is Dean of the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. He is a two-time alumnus of CSU and Warner College, as well as winner of the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Aguirre’s academic mission is to provide the next generation of environmental science, sustainability, and policy leaders with unique educational and research opportunities that are transformational and transdisciplinary in nature within the context of globalization and international markets. Previously, he was a Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University, Fairfax Virginia. There, he headed an academic and research program using One Health/Planetary Health approaches to understand wildlife diseases and their links to human health; he also was chair of the University’s Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee. For the past 30 years his work has focused on the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems under the tenet “health connects all species in the planet,” developing practical, sustainable, and effective solutions understanding local socio-economic factors and a solid grasp of complex national and regional health and environmental policies. His collaborations highlight transdisciplinarity, integrative research, socio-ecological systems and resilience, while building local capacity in over 28 countries. Dr. Aguirre cofounded the emerging discipline of Conservation Medicine, the Journal of EcoHealth and the International Association of Ecology and Health. He has published over 160 peer-reviewed papers and 5 books. Dr. Aguirre was appointed to the Board on Life Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences and served in the expert panel of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. He has advised governments of several countries of the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe and briefed the Mexican and United States Congress on many health and ecological issues linked to anthropogenic change. He has received numerous awards including the Conservation Merit Bicentennial Award from Mexico and the Harry Jalanka Memorial Medal from Finland.
Saskia van de Gevel
Visit Dates: April 6-8
Open Forum: April 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Solitude Room, Inn at Virginia Tech or Zoom
Dr. Saskia van de Gevel is a distinguished academic leader and a finalist for the Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) position at Virginia Tech. With over 16 years of leadership experience in higher education and the National Geographic Society, Dr. van de Gevel has consistently championed shared governance, honesty, and a supportive work environment. As Department Chair at Appalachian State University, she strengthened the department's research capabilities and academic programs for faculty and students. Dr. van de Gevel has built strategic partnerships with industry, government, and community organizations to secure funding, enhance research programs, and create student opportunities. She has effectively leveraged data-driven storytelling to expand scholarship opportunities and establish employment pipelines for graduates. Dr. van de Gevel has an interdisciplinary background with a B.S. in Forest Science from the Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Tennessee.
Announcement
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.
