Virginia Tech Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril R. Clarke has announced plans to step down from his position and return to the faculty at the end of this calendar year.

Clarke, a veterinarian, clinical pharmacologist, teacher, researcher, and academic leader, joined Virginia Tech in 2013 as dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He became executive vice president and provost of Virginia Tech in January 2019 following a national search, after serving in an interim capacity since November 2017.

“Cyril has been an outstanding partner and leader during a critical time for Virginia Tech, and the university community has benefited tremendously from his experience, wisdom, and profound commitment to public higher education,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “I deeply appreciate his dedication and commitment and thank him for his service on behalf the university.”

As chief academic officer, Clarke worked closely with Sands, college deans, administrators, and faculty across the institution to advance the university’s impact as a 21st century global land-grant institution, including the development of the Global Distinction steering committee to elevate the university’s prominence, strength, and capacity to act as a force for positive change.

Clarke co-sponsored the Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Inquiry, which developed a university commitment to freedom of speech that “ensures a learning environment that supports and promotes civil debate and mutual respect across differences,” and academic freedom that “enables scholars to conduct research, teach, speak, and publish within an area of expertise without interference or penalty.”

Working with the Faculty Senate, he co-chaired the President’s Committee on Governance that developed a framework for a new system of shared governance that engaged a broader range of the university’s constituent groups.

Engaging with faculty leaders was a priority for Clarke. Each academic year, he held numerous forums and open question-and-answer sessions with Faculty Senate, Department Heads Council, and other representative groups to hear concerns and perspectives and offer updates and guidance for the academic community.

Other university accomplishments led by Clarke during his tenure as provost include:

  • Leading the university’s academic enterprise through the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting the health and safety of the community while sustaining core educational, research, and outreach programs
  • Guiding growth of undergraduate enrollment to 30,000 in support of the university’s Beyond Boundaries vision
  • Advancing Virginia Tech’s Destination Areas, transdisciplinary communities working collaboratively to address complex problems of global importance that impact the human condition
  • Implementing the Calhoun Honors Discovery Program to facilitate innovation, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving across disciplines
  • Guiding development of the Tech Talent initiative and Innovation Campus plan as part of the higher education package that brought Amazon’s HQ2 to Virginia and led to the recent opening of Virginia Tech’s Academic Building One in Alexandria
  • Advancing the university’s leadership of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, a network of cyber research, innovation, and learning created by connecting Virginia’s public universities, community colleges, and businesses
  • Integrating the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine into the university as a college, making it possible to offer a doctor of medicine degree
  • Launching a Mental Health Task Force that identified opportunities to enhance support for the emotional and overall well-being of the campus community and made significant strides in awareness, education, prevention, and intervention
  • Reorganizing the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design to provide greater visibility for arts, design and architectural programs, and reflect the university’s focus on transdisciplinary scholarship and education
  • Overseeing the appointment of new leadership in nine of the university’s 10 colleges, the Graduate School, Student Affairs, Research and Innovation, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, and vice provost units
  • Launching a universitywide Academic Resource Alignment project to ensure that current academic programs are aligned with Virginia Tech’s strategic priorities and mission

“Cyril’s expertise, insight, and thoughtful leadership have greatly benefited the university and the commonwealth,” said Ed Baine, rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. “On behalf of the board, I want to express my deep appreciation for his service to the university and public higher education.”

Clarke will continue to serve as a member of the Virginia Tech faculty to support the university’s ongoing strategic initiatives.

“Virginia Tech is an extraordinary institution that embraces its land-grant tradition with a student-centered vision for the future.” Clarke said. “I am grateful to have had the privilege of serving amazing colleagues in their steadfast commitment to advance our core academic and research missions and to provide students with the support and guidance they need to be successful both during and after their time at Virginia Tech.”

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Clarke earned his professional veterinary degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, a Ph.D. in veterinary pharmacology from Louisiana State University, and a master's degree in higher education from Oklahoma State University. He is certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology.

His 38-year career in higher education began with a faculty appointment at Oklahoma State University in 1987, where he served as department head and associate dean for academic affairs in the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and received the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence for his work with antibacterial agents.

In 2007, he became the Lois Bates Acheson Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University.

Clarke has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including the board of directors for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and past president of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology. He is also a past member of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and the AVMA Council on Education, the accrediting agency for veterinary medical education in North America.

A national search for Clarke’s successor will be conducted by a university committee led by Patricia M. Dove, University Distinguished Professor and C.P. Miles Professor of Science in Geoscience.  

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