Rick Sparks named university registrar
Rick Sparks has been named university registrar at Virginia Tech.
Sparks most recently served as interim director of Student Centers and Activities for the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Tech. Prior to that, Sparks held the position of director of new student programs and associate dean of students.
Sparks will provide leadership as the university’s chief academic records official, tracking student enrollments and progress towards degrees, while adhering to federal, state, and university guidelines. In addition to academic records, the office coordinates class scheduling.
As a key member of the university's enrollment and degree management team, Sparks will advise senior leadership about initiatives to meet strategic enrollment goals of recruitment, retention, and progress toward a degree.
“Rick has over 16 years of demonstrated leadership, with 13 years of experience in higher education at Virginia Tech,” Wanda Hankins Dean, vice provost for enrollment and degree management, said. “His extensive knowledge of Virginia Tech academics will be invaluable in his new role. Working with our office in his prior roles has given him an appreciation and understanding of our mission to recruit, retain, and graduate students who will be successful beyond their studies at Virginia Tech.”
“I am honored to provide leadership to the university and for an office that has an already outstanding reputation for student-centered, quality service,” Sparks said. “I plan to continue collaborative work that supports our students, parents, faculty, and staff in my new role.”
Sparks received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Radford University.
