Three finalists for vice president for Outreach and International Affairs selected for campus interviews

A search committee was appointed in the fall and has been working to find the next vice president for this important university organization.

As part of the interview and selection process for the next vice president, Senior Vice President and Provost Mark McNamee invites all members of the campus community to meet the candidates selected for a campus interview.

University and community members will be invited to attend each candidate’s open forum presentation on “The Vision for Community and Global Engagement at Virginia Tech.” The open forum presentations will also be broadcast live via AdobeConnect for remote participants, and recordings of the sessions will be available online following each.

A reception will be held following each open forum presentation.

Candidate CVs and survey links to provide feedback will be posted on the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost website in advance of each visit date. The search committee encourages community members to submit feedback via the online surveys.

G. Don Taylor: February 20-21

Don Taylor is Charles O. Gordon Professor and Department Head of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. He holds a Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research from the University of Massachusetts, and a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Taylor is a licensed Professional Engineer and began his career as an engineer in private industry before moving into academia as an instructor and research assistant in the late 1980s. He began his faculty career at the University of Arkansas in 1990 and has progressed steadily through faculty ranks and into positions of progressive leadership.

Taylor came to Virginia Tech as a professor and department head in 2004. Taylor has demonstrated broad participation in local and international outreach activities, and holds a number of service roles including serving as the senior vice president at large for the Institute of Industrial Engineers.

• Open Forum Presentation and Reception: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 3:30 to 5 p.m., The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center

Christopher Shove: February 25-26

Chris Shove currently serves as the executive director of the Institute for Community Engagement at Zayed University, in addition to serving on a short-term contract as a social scientist for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Shove holds a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning with a concentration in international development from Florida State University. He has a master’s degree from Clemson University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Shove has more than 25 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles in both public sector and academic settings. His roles have served initiatives in urban planning, economic development, outreach and distance education, and community and international engagement.

Shove has been active in a number of professional and organizational service roles, and has most recently been recognized with the Commander’s Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service in Afghanistan (2012).

• Open Forum Presentation and Reception: Monday, Feb. 25, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Solitude Room, Inn at Virginia Tech

Lisa Braverman: February 28 - March 1 (withdrawn)

Lisa Braverman is the associate provost for adult programs and outreach at Long Island University. She holds a Ph.D., two master’s degrees (one in Spanish language and literature with a minor in Latin American Studies) from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University.

Prior to her current role, she served as a dean for the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and as the executive director for college outreach in the State University of New York system.

She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership positions focused on continuing, professional, community, and international programs as well as outreach and economic development.

Braverman has served on the board of directors for the University Professional Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), and chaired their Leadership and Management Commission from 2009 to 2012.

• Open Forum Presentation and Reception: Friday, March 1, 3:30 to 5 p.m., The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center (event canceled)