James R. Bohland honored with emeritus status
James R. Bohland, professor of Urban Affairs and Planning and recently retired vice president and executive director of Virginia Tech National Capital Region Operations, has been conferred the “professor emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emeritus is conferred on retired full professors and associate professors, administrative officers, extra-collegiate faculty with continued appointment, and senior Virginia Cooperative Extension agents who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1980, Bohland served as vice president and executive director of National Capital Region Operations and led the senior management team there in the development and implementation of new strategic directions in resilience, security, sustainability, health, and technology. He was instrumental in the inception and completion of the Virginia Tech Research Center – Arlington as a U.S. Green Council LEED-certified facility in June 2011.
As a Senior Fellow for Biomedical, Bioengineering, and Health Projects from 2001 to 2005, he developed and implemented research and graduate degree programs in the biomedical, bioengineering, and health areas and managed collaborative agreements with selected medical schools.
In addition, Bohland served as interim provost and approved the initial concept for the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, helped establish the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, and played a pivotal role in the development of the university strategic plan. He also guided establishment of the School of Public and International Affairs, serving as its founding director.
Bohland received his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
