Message from the Dean

Virginia Tech has come a long way. We can see evidence of that everywhere we look. When you read this edition of our annual magazine, which publishes as Virginia Tech begins a celebration of its 150th anniversary, we’ll take you back to the university’s roots and the people who set the path for what Virginia Tech has become. Certainly, there’s much in here to make a Hokie proud.

As fascinating as it may be to look at the black and white photos, our history is critical for another reason: It forged a trail for everything we have become. It put the wind at our backs for what we will do in the coming decades.

In this issue, you’ll see some of the work of early Virginia Tech scientists that set the stage for Virginia Tech’s leadership in fields such as animal medicine, polymer chemistry, computing (remember Atari?), disease prevention and several others. Science also led the way in graduating the first woman from Virginia Tech, in biology in 1923. This year, we are establishing a new Women in Science Leadership program.

Long before last year’s global pandemic, Hokie scientists recognized that the world we live in is saddled with critical problems, ones that could only be solved by following the science. That remains our calling today, and the beacon that will guide us in the next century. Our researchers focus on these issues, and our hands-on scientific education is crafted to imbue our students with deep disciplinary knowledge as well as a collaborative mindset to enable them to address issues broadly.

As you read this year’s magazine, I think you will agree the college has a great deal of momentum, ignited by our history and driven to make an impact on the world in the next 150 years.

Thank you again for your support of Virginia Tech and the College of Science.