Ed Falco, professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 40 years, Falco has made a local, national, and international impact in the field of creative writing. He has authored nine books, including novels, short story collections, and poetry collections. Falco has received numerous grants and awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, a Virginia Commission for the Arts Fellowship, and the Robert Penn Warren Prize in Poetry. In addition, he served as a member of various committees, including the executive and the personnel committees. He also served as the coordinator of the Visiting Writers Series for over a decade.

Falco held the Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and the Albert L. Sturm Award for Faculty Excellence in the Creative Arts.

In the classroom, he taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of creative writing, literature, and special topics seminars. He served as the director of the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing from 2007-12.

Throughout his career, Falco served as a mentor and advisor for numerous undergraduate and graduate students, chairing dozens of thesis committees, and contributing significantly to the development of emerging writers.

Falco received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz and master’s degree from Syracuse University.

Written by Anja Hemesath, a senior and a student writer for Virginia Tech Communications and Marketing

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