Emily Talley named the director of the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability

Emily Talley offers 25 years of leadership, communication, and organizational development across sectors including higher education, national nonprofit, and multinational corporate. Talley’s appointment was effective July 1, 2024.

In addition to leading the center, she has developed curricula and served as an instructor in both Master of Natural Resources program formats and published research focused on systems thinking competency development for graduate students in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.

“Emily brings to this role significant experience and the vision needed to continue our success in delivering a high-quality program to working professionals,” said Paul Winistorfer, dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment. “As a graduate of the program and also earning a doctorate in our college, she understands both the challenges and opportunities to move us forward. I’m excited to work with her and the entire team to ensure success in the future.”

Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Talley spent twenty-five years leading diverse teams to advance program and partnership development in the national nonprofit and multinational corporate sectors, as well as higher education, with a focus on engaging marginalized populations and fostering boundary-spanning, sustainable connections. Resulting partnerships engaged thousands of stakeholders across geographies and garnered the Points of Light Institute Corporate Engagement Award for Excellence, the Washington Business Journal Nonprofit Capacity Building Award, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center Award.

Talley received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and an Executive Master of Natural Resources and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

She serves on the board of the Model Forest Policy Program and is a member of Virginia Tech's professionally oriented graduate programs steering committee. She also represents the College of Natural Resources and Environment on Virginia Tech's global education approval committee.