A career of service: Kim O’Rourke to retire after 48 years at Virginia Tech
After nearly five decades at Virginia Tech, Kim O’Rourke ’93, MBA ’96, vice president for policy and governance and secretary to the Board of Visitors, will retire at the end of 2026, concluding a longstanding career marked by service and dedication to the university.
O’Rourke has served Virginia Tech in several roles, embodying the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) and helping advance the university’s mission through years of growth, innovation, and change. She began her career at Virginia Tech in 1978 in a part-time role before transitioning to a full-time employee in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (now the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design) and went on to serve in other roles in Student Affairs, the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Advancement, and the Office of the President. She will leave a lasting impact on the university and on the many colleagues and communities she has worked with through the years.
“Kim has dedicated her career to Virginia Tech with exceptional commitment and care,” said Amy Sebring, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Across many roles, she has helped advance the university through her leadership, dedication, and service to this institution. Over the course of her career, she has been a stalwart advisor to university leaders and has provided mentorship and guidance to countless faculty, staff, and students. We are deeply grateful for her dedication to the success of this institution and its people.”
As vice president for policy and governance and secretary to the Board of Visitors since 2017, O’Rourke has responsibility for managing the university’s governance infrastructure and extensive involvement in policy development. She has focused on enhancing the governance process through a universitywide shared governance system and creating a robust university policy library and management process. As secretary to the Board of Visitors, O’Rourke and her team provide strategic guidance and direct support to the university’s governing board.
O’Rourke’s career reflects a deep connection to Virginia Tech. Having earned both a bachelor’s degree in accounting and MBA while employed at the university, she has sustained a commitment to higher education and provided steady leadership in support of the university’s priorities and mission.
“Virginia Tech has been my lifelong learning experience. It’s been an incredible journey through many dimensions of the university that has enabled me to do what I enjoy most: collaborating on navigating challenges, small and large, identifying solutions, and implementing them,” said O’Rourke. “The foundation of Virginia Tech’s success is its people, and most of all, I am deeply thankful for the enormous privilege of having worked with some of the best of the best — people of integrity who hold themselves to the highest standards and live Ut Prosim.”
With O’Rourke’s retirement, Sebring plans to refocus the role on the growing responsibilities of stewarding the university’s governance process and providing executive support to the Board of Visitors, moving policy management responsibilities to the University Operations team. Sebring plans to launch the search immediately with more details to be shared in the coming days.
