Student Affairs celebrates community champions with Good Neighbor Awards

Christina Caudill

12 Mar 2024

A smiling man and woman together hold a framed photo standing next to a third smiling woman — (From left) Bob and Mary McClelland with Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.

Student Affairs recently honored exceptional individuals with Good Neighbor Awards at its annual Spring Renewal event.

Since 2020, this award has recognized members of the Hokie community who have made outstanding contributions as partners to Student Affairs.

The Feb. 8 ceremony, led by Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs, recognized this year's honorees: alumni Mary and Bob McClelland and Bob Broyden, interim vice president for Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities at Virginia Tech.

“The work we do to serve students is not work we can do alone,” said Keene. “The Good Neighbor award allows us to recognize those in the Hokie community, outside of Student Affairs, who have gone above and beyond to partner with us in our efforts to promote student success, well-being, and inclusivity.”

Giving back and making an impact

Mary and Bob McClelland, both Virginia Tech alumni, were recognized for their support of the Ut Prosim Aspire! Award Scholarship — the first scholarship attached to a student Aspire! Award. Mary McClelland, a former residential advisor who studied industrial and systems engineering, understood firsthand the challenges many students face, particularly those related to financial hardship.

Driven by a desire to give back to the university that had supported her during difficult times, McClelland and her husband established the Robert and Mary McClelland Aspire! Ut Prosim Scholarship in 2014. This endowed scholarship, awarded annually to an undergraduate student who embodies the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) through service and who demonstrates financial need, reflects the McClellands' commitment to providing opportunities for future generations of Hokies.

“Student Affairs holds a close place in my heart," said Mary McClelland on receiving the award. "Of all the areas where we could give back at Virginia Tech, we chose to make a big focus on Student Affairs because there, everyone who steps foot on campus will be impacted by what we can do.”

A steward of campus growth

A smiling white woman with two white men, one holding a framed photo award — (From left) Frances Keene with Bob Broyden, interim vice president for Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities, and Chris Wise, assistant vice president for health and well-being. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.

The event also celebrated the contributions of Bob Broyden, a leader in Virginia Tech's Campus Planning team whose dedication played a pivotal role in shaping the university's ever-evolving physical landscape.

Chris Wise, assistant vice president for health and well-being, said during Broyden’s tenure, he orchestrated the strategy and development to drive over $2 billion of new funding, which more than doubled the size of Virginia Tech in the last 30 years. From overseeing capital projects to fostering partnerships with community leaders and private partners, Broyden’s visionary leadership has been integral to Virginia Tech's growth and development.

Broyden’s role in the revitalization of War Memorial Hall, a long-awaited project set to be completed this summer, underscores his commitment to enhancing student well-being and success. His tireless efforts and strategic stewardship have ensured that Virginia Tech's facilities continue to meet the evolving needs of its dynamic community.

Reflecting on his three decades at Virginia Tech that will conclude with his retirement this June, Broyden said. “The thing that has helped me the most during my time here is to identify a guiding principle that helps you make decisions, solve problems, and put what we do into context. The guiding principle I landed on is: ‘Do what is best for the students.’”