Tracy Vosburgh, vice president for communications and marketing, to retire July 1; Mark Owczarski to serve in interim role

Tracy Vosburgh, vice president for communications and marketing at Virginia Tech, will retire from her senior leadership post on July 1.

Mark Owczarski, currently the associate vice president for communications and marketing and university spokesperson, will become interim vice president for communications and marketing following Vosburgh’s departure.

Vosburgh came to Virginia Tech in 2015 and was charged to integrate communications into the advancement model to align with presidential priorities. Under her leadership, Virginia Tech launched a refreshed brand and visual identity as part of a broader effort to elevate the university's global reputation and introduced the annual State of the University Address to highlight presidential priorities for the university community around the world.

In addition, Vosburgh created an office of media relations to significantly increase media exposure for Virginia Tech and established social media policies and practices across campus. She also led the creation of brand guidelines that helped increase licensing revenues that support student scholarships.

Vosburgh and her team also played pivotal roles in developing the university’s sesquicentennial celebration, the launch of the Boundless Impact Campaign, the announcement of Amazon HQ2 and creation of the Innovation Campus in Alexandria, and in leading a years-long campuswide communications and marketing campaign during the COVID-19 crisis that helped keep the university community safe and informed.

In 2022, following a charge from university President Tim Sands, Vosburgh led the integration of the university’s communications efforts into a more efficient and fully aligned team based on the success of the Virginia Tech’s Advancement model.

Sands reflected on Vosburgh's impact.

"Tracy built a truly unique integrated communications and marketing team that has significantly elevated Virginia Tech’s national and global reputation,” he said. “I especially appreciate her unparalleled ability to align our messaging with the story of our comprehensive land-grant research mission."

Senior Vice President Charlie Phlegar expressed his gratitude for Vosburgh's many contributions to Virginia Tech.

"Virginia Tech’s brand awareness, reputation, engagement, and fundraising success have never been stronger, thanks to Tracy’s leadership of our communications and marketing efforts,” Phlegar said. “We are deeply grateful for her role in our success.”

“I’m proud of what my teams have been able to accomplish over the past nine years, and I’m grateful the Virginia Tech community allowed me to be a part of that journey,” Vosburgh said. “I’m also very grateful that I’ve had Mark as a trusted partner during my time here – as associate vice president and in the challenging role of university spokesperson – and I know the communications and marketing team and the university will be in good hands.”

Owczarski brings nearly 21 years of experience at Virginia Tech to his new role. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including leading the university's pioneering efforts to transition communications products to digital platforms with a global reach, and his success enhancing the university's reputation and brand through international media coverage.

After years of helping shape the university’s communications efforts through crises and celebrations, Owczarski was elevated to associate vice president and university spokesperson in 2021. In that role he has represented the university on the national and global media stage, and served as a partner to Vosburgh in meeting the president’s challenge to align and advance communications and marketing efforts across Virginia Tech.

Before coming to Virginia Tech in 2003, Owczarski’s experience includes leading communications efforts at Syracuse University, Guilford College, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from Syracuse University.

Sands expressed his confidence that Owczarski will succeed in his new role.

"Mark’s two decades of experience and knowledge across all sectors of the university are invaluable. He is uniquely positioned to build on Tracy’s vision and success, furthering our mission to become a distinctive global research university."

“As Virginia Tech looks to the future, the importance of clear messaging and a strong brand has never been more critical,” added Phlegar. “Through Tracy’s many efforts and with Mark’s smart and steady guidance, the university is well positioned to continue to meet our strategic objectives and elevate Virginia Tech's profile as one of the nation's top research universities.”