Immigration law expert to lead Global Strategic Services
Jeff Van Doren, a lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience in immigration, employment, and labor law, has been named the director of Virginia Tech’s Office of Global Strategic Services, underscoring the university’s commitment to strengthening its systems, staffing, and processes for attracting top talent from around the world and developing multifaceted agreements with leading global institutions.
“Jeff is a talented immigration attorney, strategic thinker, and compassionate leader,” said Guru Ghosh, vice president for outreach and international affairs. “He is committed to ensuring that Virginia Tech remains a welcoming destination for our international community.”
Every year, hundreds of scholars come to Virginia Tech to research, teach, and engage in other scholarly activities. Global Strategic Services is their gateway to Virginia Tech, providing immigration services and other assistance.
Formerly known as International Support Services, Global Strategic Services is primarily involved in supporting the employment-based immigration processing and research scholars at the university. The office handles all the visas for visiting scholars (J-1) and work visas (H-1B) for faculty and staff members, and it supports the permanent residency (green card) process for other employees as well.
Part of Outreach and International Affairs, Global Strategic Services provides comprehensive support, advisement, and advocacy for international scholars and faculty while maintaining the highest standard of integrity and immigration compliance to ensure that Virginia Tech continues to be a top choice for the international academic community.
Van Doren will be concentrating on pending work visa and permanent residency cases during his first few months. Working with departments across the university, he aims to ensure that all pending visa cases are filed and completed in a timely manner. He is also in the process of hiring additional staff with employment-based immigration expertise to meet the growth in caseload and to fill positions as a result of recent staff turnover.
“I am excited to join Virginia Tech and to help the university continue to strengthen its global engagement,” Van Doren said. “The challenges confronting the nation and the world underscore the need for leading higher education institutions such as Virginia Tech to engage — with passion, intention, and innovation — as engines of societal growth and transformation.”
Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, Van Doren ran a solo immigration and employment practice in Blacksburg before merging it with the boutique law firm CowanPerry. Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" for immigration law, he assisted U.S. and international companies with their immigration needs.
Van Doren earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Dayton and a juris doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania.