Virginia Tech names new associate vice president for international affairs
Guru Ghosh, director of international programs for the California State University System’s Humboldt State University, will join Virginia Tech in July as associate vice president for international affairs, John Dooley, vice president for Outreach and International Affairs, announced.
Ghosh earned his Ph.D. degree in educational policy, planning, and leadership from Virginia’s College of William and Mary. At Humboldt, Ghosh oversaw the development of strategic partnerships and international agreements as well as supervised faculty and staff at a branch campus in China. Ghosh also served as director of global education for the College of William and Mary from 2000 to 2009. His portfolio there included numerous international study programs in 20 countries.
“I’m pleased and delighted that, after a nationwide search, we have found a charismatic leader to build upon the great success we’ve developed over the last 20 years. He will help us move forward in the increasingly vital international sphere,” Dooley said. “International affairs encompasses so much at Virginia Tech – not only education abroad and a strong contingent of international students studying here, but also more than $90 million in research worldwide as well as Virginia Tech campuses and centers on five continents.”
“I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the position of associate vice president for international affairs at Virginia Tech,” Ghosh said. “Virginia Tech is uniquely positioned to be one of the great universities in the world with global reach and distinction. I am looking forward to joining a globally engaged community dedicated to the unbridled pursuit of greatness.”
As associate vice president, Ghosh will be responsible for the planning, marketing, delivery, and oversight of the university's international programs and activities. The associate vice president provides leadership and vision to a comprehensive range of programs, services, and activities including international support services; the Center for European Studies and Architecture; and the development and sustainability of new international centers in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Additionally, the associate vice president will work closely with the director of the Office of International Research, Education, and Development to expand and enhance education abroad programs, to facilitate the successful implementation of donor funded projects, and to develop the Virginia Tech, India campus.
Ghosh earned his bachelor’s degree in international business from Marycrest International University in Iowa. He was the first international student to be elected vice president of the student body. He earned his master’s degree in student personnel administration in higher education at Ball State University in Indiana.
He takes over from S.K. De Datta, who steps down as associate vice president to concentrate on the Office of International Research, Education, and Development. “The university is forever indebted to Dr. De Datta for his visionary leadership over the last 20 years, which has propelled Virginia Tech into having one of the preeminent international programs in higher education,” Dooley said.
