School of Public and International Affairs announces new advisory board

2 Mar 2015

The College of Architecture and Urban Studies’ School of Public and International Affairs has formed an advisory board to provide critical input for the school’s strategic direction, growth, and continued success.

The board members are a distinguished group who have achieved success in their respective careers and are in a position to provide valuable insights. The group’s inaugural meeting is scheduled for March 18 at the Virginia Tech Research Center – Arlington. The first meeting will serve to introduce the board to several initiatives and opportunities and to highlight key priorities for the school.

Anne Khademian, director of the School of Public and International Affairs, said the advisory board composition represents the focus and interests of the three programs in the school — the Center for Public Administration and Policy, Government and International Affairs, and Urban Affairs and Planning — as well as the long-term priorities of the school.

The advisory board will be responsible for providing guidance on strategic directions and identifying potential resources. It will also explore ways to enhance student education, foster faculty advancement, and increase overall visibility of the school.

James R. Bohland will serve a two-year term as the first chair. Bohland is the co-director of the Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience at Virginia Tech and a professor emeritus in the School of Public and International Affairs. Part of the Virginia Tech community since 1980, he has made numerous contributions, including serving as vice president and executive director in the National Capital Region. Bohland also guided the establishment of the School of Public and International Affairs, serving as its founding director.

“In a world that is increasingly complex, it is critical for schools that engage in educating the next generation of professionals to be informed by leaders who have achieved high acclaim in their fields. We are fortunate that our new advisory board is populated by such individuals,” Bohland said. “I know that the School of Public and International Affairs will be advanced by the collective wisdom and action of the new board, and I look forward to working with them as we chart an exciting future for the school.”

The board members serving alongside Bohland are:

Kelly Clements, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State;
Nancy Gray, president of Hollins University;
Letitia Long, former director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the first female head of a major U.S. intelligence agency;
Soo-Young Park, vice governor, Gyeonggi Province, Suwon, Korea; and
Charles W. Steger, president emeritus of Virginia Tech, and current member of Virginia Tech’s Global Forum on Urban & Regional Resilience.

Each board member will serve a three-year term with an option for renewal.

“The School of Public and International Affairs is extremely fortunate to have such accomplished and distinguished individuals serving on the board,” said Khademian. “Together the board members bring deep leadership and knowledge in higher education, international affairs, security, public policy, resilience, research, and public service. With the guidance and support of the board, our school aims to be a key contributor in shaping the land grant university of the 21^stcentury.”