P. Buckley Moss appointed a Fellow at Virginia Tech

Renowned artist P. Buckley Moss has been named a Fellow of Virginia Tech’s outreach programs and the university’s Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement.

Her prominence in the arts, wide network of contacts, and extensive experience as an advocate for incorporating the arts into education will be major assets for Virginia Tech, according to Susan Short, the university’s associate vice president for engagement.

“The arts contribute significantly to economic vitality and learning, two critical components of our mission,” Short said. “We are delighted to welcome P. Buckley Moss as a Fellow and look forward to working with her as we expand access to outreach programs and experiences in the arts that inspire creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking.”

Moss’ work is represented in more than 200 galleries worldwide. A graduate of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, she has won numerous awards and was the subject of a PBS documentary, “Split the Wind.”

“I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to many years of being part of the university community,” Moss said. “Virginia Tech has done so much for so many people, and I’m happy to be part of an effort to promote the arts, which are so important both in the field of education and as a means of life enrichment.”

Moss has dyslexia and is the namesake of a foundation, created in 1995, to encourage the use of visual and performing arts in educational programs, particularly those involving young people with learning disabilities. The P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education hosts an annual teacher’s conference to share the latest methods of art-based education. Short pointed out that the Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement focuses on providing professional training, so Moss’ foundation experience is directly applicable to her work as a Fellow.

An additional area of responsibility for Moss as an outreach Fellow will be to support the university’s economic development efforts, particularly in the southwest and southside regions of Virginia.

The Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement was established in 1994 to foster best practices and innovation across professions and sectors. It is based at the historic Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, and is part of Virginia Tech Outreach and International Affairs.

“Through projects like the construction of the Center for the Arts and the creation of the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, we are increasing the prominence of the arts at Virginia Tech and in Southwest Virginia in general, said Vice President for Outreach and International Affairs Guru Ghosh. “Having such a prominent artist working with us on new educational and economic-development initiatives will add to our momentum, benefitting both the university and the region.”