The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost has named five faculty members to the 2024 class of Virginia Tech’s Academies of Faculty Service and Leadership.

Recognized with membership in the Academy of Faculty Service in honor of their exemplary contributions in formal service roles are Silke Hauf, associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science; Ran Jin, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering; and Rachel Miles, research impact coordinator for University Libraries. 

The new members of the Academy of Faculty Leadership, in honor of their impactful leadership at the university, are Roseanne Foti, professor of psychology in the College of Science, and Susan Piedmont-Palladino, director of the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, part of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design.

Academy of Faculty Service

Silke Hauf, associate professor of biological sciences

Hauf spearheaded a grassroots effort to create an informal "work in progress" seminar series that flourished into the Virginia Tech Life Sciences Seminar, a universitywide series that has hosted over 100 speakers from around the world. As chair of the seminar committee since 2020, Hauf worked diligently to keep the program afloat during the pandemic. 

She is co-director of the interdisciplinary graduate education program in molecular and cell biology and played a crucial role in obtaining funding for a state-of-the-art microscopy and imaging facility that benefits hundreds of faculty members, students, and other research personnel. Hauf has been recognized with the Department of Biological Sciences' awards for outstanding teaching in 2019, research in 2017, and service in 2022. 

Ran Jin, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering 

Jin’s dedication to service and his commitment to the shared governance model has made a meaningful impact across the university. In the College of Engineering, Jin served as president of the Engineering Faculty Organization (EFO), implemented a seed grant program, launched the EFO Inspiration seminar series, and spearheaded the organization’s fall meetings, including poster sessions and opportunities to develop research collaborations. 

To enhance communication with the Faculty Senate, Jin created an ex-officio position for a Faculty Senate cabinet member in the EFO executive committee. He also served as co-chair of the Virginia Tech’s Commission on Research and as the university’s first Faculty Senate operations officer. Jin’s support for shared governance has led him to consult with Pamplin College of Business in the creation of a faculty organization and to coordinate with college-level faculty associations across all colleges at Virginia Tech.

Rachel Miles, research impact coordinator for University Libraries

Miles serves as a member of the Faculty Senate’s Policy and Procedures Committee, chair of the Responsible Research Assessment Task Force, member of the subcommittee on Assessing Faculty Assessment, and member of the Assessment of Faculty Scholarship Committee. She’s a senator in the Faculty Senate, cabinet member, and operations officer. 

In University Libraries, she has served as president of the Library Faculty Association and chair of the University Libraries Diversity Council, among other roles. Her extensive, dedicated, and impactful service has earned her support from colleagues across the university.

Academy of Faculty Leadership

Roseanne Foti, professor of psychology

Foti transformed hiring practices within the Department of Psychology through her focus on diversity and inclusion, grounded in her participation in the White Allies as Transformational Leaders program. Because of her changes, her department is better able to attract and retain diverse scholars. Procedures she developed are now in use across the entire College of Science. 

Her impact reaches well beyond her role in psychology. Foti supports women leaders in leadership development, leads her department's diversity and inclusion committee, and urges a commitment to diversity and inclusion across campus, making her a “leader of leaders.” 

Susan Piedmont-Palladino, director of the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center

Piedmont-Palladino suddenly stepped into the role of director of the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center in a moment of crisis. She then persistently advocated for the value of the center and the vitality of its facility in the face of pressure to downsize, all while cultivating a supportive, inclusive environment among students, alumni, and faculty.

To facilitate an exchange of ideas about how academia and the architecture profession can cooperate to solve wicked problems, Piedmont-Palladino developed the Firm Advisory Board, a select group of design firms in the Washington metropolitan region who meet regularly with the center's faculty and students. She began an annual scholarship program and dramatically expanded the center's online presence, leading to the highest percentage of donations from alumni among all units in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. Piedmont-Palladino is recognized for her ability to bring people together, her contributions to student-centered learning and diversity, and her place as a role model for female students and underrepresented groups.

To be nominated for the Academy of Faculty Service, faculty must successfully complete an elected or appointed term of office in university governance or complete the assignment associated with a university-level project, make commendable service contributions at the university level outside of usual responsibilities and ongoing formal governance roles, and make a notable and demonstrable positive impact on the university. 

To be nominated for the Academy of Faculty Leadership, faculty must model exemplary leadership in formal or informal roles within the university in ways that significantly advance a culture of collaborative leadership; promote faculty, staff, and/or student development; advance program or curricular transformation; and make a notable and demonstrable positive impact within the university community.

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