Tim Sands inducted into Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council Hall of Fame
The award recognizes Sands’ collaborative leadership and vision in building a connected innovation network across the commonwealth and beyond.
Leaders and municipal partners across business, technology, and life sciences gathered at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in May as Virginia Tech President Tim Sands was inducted into the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council Hall of Fame.
The honor, presented during the council’s annual TechNite ceremony on May 7, recognizes leaders who have left a lasting impact on the Roanoke-Blacksburg region through innovation, integrity, and collaborative leadership.
Eddie Amos, Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) co-chair and 2023 inductee, presented the award to Sands, praising his work to align various technology sectors toward a shared future.
"He shifted the conversation in our region from 'What can one institution accomplish?' to 'What can we build together?’” Amos said. “That mindset matters because innovation ecosystems are not built overnight. They are built through trust, long-term investment, collaboration, and leaders willing to align universities, healthcare systems, startups, local governments, entrepreneurs, and industry around a shared future."
"President Sands’ induction into the RBTC Hall of Fame recognizes a visionary leader who has unified academia and innovation throughout the state of Virginia,” Council Executive Director Erin Burcham said. “He transitioned Virginia Tech into a multi-campus innovation engine that serves as a cornerstone for Virginia’s biotech, technology, energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors.”
Both Amos and Burcham noted the evolution of Sands’ vision of a comprehensive innovation network, which includes Academic One building in Alexandria, the expansion of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke, and the full integration of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine into the university.
“The members of our innovation community continue to raise the bar,” Burcham said. “The ideas, research, and companies developing here in Roanoke and Blacksburg are truly world-class, and it’s a rich experience to recognize all they have achieved and continue to achieve."
While accepting the award, Sands reflected on his journey since becoming Virginia Tech's president, saying the university’s growth is deeply tied to both regional and technological evolutions.
“I came to Virginia Tech 12 years ago because I saw remarkable possibilities, not just for the university, but for the region and the commonwealth, and it seemed there were opportunities everywhere you looked,” Sands said. “People here are willing to think beyond our perceived boundaries, take bold steps, and work together to create a culture of discovery and success. I look forward to seeing Virginia Tech and this region continue to grow together in the future.”
