University names Michael K. Herndon director of university summer sessions

Michael K. Herndon, who formerly served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Virginia Tech's Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, has been named director of university summer sessions.

Reporting to Associate Vice President for Distance Learning and Summer Sessions Tom Wilkinson, Herndon will provide central planning and advocacy support to coordinate cross-college initiatives, and promote long-range planning and marketing for summer instruction. He will also work closely with the university’s colleges and academic departments to evaluate, plan, organize, and promote expanded opportunities and enrollments in support of for-credit courses in the summer. He will also contribute to the strategic planning efforts for summer sessions, ensuring that these efforts are congruent with the university’s strategic plan.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Herndon join the Distance Learning and Summer Session organization, says Wilkinson. “Michael brings valuable experience in undergraduate education and a true sense of student centeredness to summer sessions. His work in interdisciplinary studies will be a tremendous asset as we move forward to make summer sessions an integral part of a student’s educational experience during their time at Virginia Tech.”

Herndon has served the university’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in a variety of capacities since 1995. He served as a graduate assistance from 1995 to 1997 and an academic advisor from 1997 to 2001. In 2001, Herndon was named assistant director and the following year, promoted to the role of director and assistant professor (non-tenure track), where he served until 2008.

Herndon and his wife, along with their two boys, reside in Christiansburg. He received his bachelor’s in communication and master’s in student development in higher education degrees from Howard University and his doctorate degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech.