Richard C. Rich honored with emeritus status
Richard C. Rich, professor of political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, has been conferred the “professor emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members 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 university community for 35 years, Rich was principal or co-principal investigator on grants researching urban politics, environmental policy, and economic development across the state, the nation, and the world and brought international visibility to the university through his work with the Ford, Kellogg, and James Stuart Mott Foundations and the Center for Responsive Governance.
During his tenure, Rich directed 17 graduate students and served on more than 55 master's and doctoral committees. In addition, he served on advisory panels and reporting groups for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and other government agencies. Part of his teaching involved organizing and leading a series of study abroad programs focused on environmental policy in Western Europe.
Additionally, Rich authored or co-authored more than 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, and reviews.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, a master’s degree from Indiana State University, and his Ph.D. from Indiana University.
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.
