Edward Spencer honored by North-American Interfraternity Conference
Edward Spencer, Virginia Tech's vice president emeritus for student affairs, received the 2015 Alumni Award of Distinction presented by the North-American Interfraternity Conference.
The Alumni Award of Distinction recognizes fraternity men who have given their time, talents, and service to the betterment of their fraternity.
Spencer, a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, was honored for exemplifying life-long engagement in the educational mission of fraternities. In the summer of 2014, he oversaw the development of a sexual misconduct workshop for more than 245 undergraduate chapters of Sigma Chi, and, under his direction, the Sigma Chi Journey chapter and member improvement program was developed to help prepare values-based leaders committed to the betterment of character, campus, and community.
“Dr. Spencer believes wholeheartedly in the value that fraternities can bring to a young man’s life and the communities that young man lives and involves himself in,” said Michael Church, Sigma Chi executive director. “He demonstrates that fervent belief in both his words and his actions. It is almost impossible to find a professional partner who exhibits such an ardent support of fraternities at-large, and he has been both a vocal proponent as well as dedicated worker towards constantly improving the cause.”
Spencer has been a mentor to hundreds of students and was recognized with the Most Outstanding Faculty Advisor, Most Outstanding Chapter Advisor, the Order of Constantine, and Significant Sig honors from Sigma Chi.
Spencer came to Virginia Tech in 1983 as director of housing and residence life. He became director of residential and dining programs in 1989 and was named assistant vice president for student affairs in 1996. He was named associate vice president in 2004 and vice president for student affairs in 2008.
He retired as vice president for student affairs in 2012 after 42 years as a student affairs professional and was awarded the title of vice president emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
Through his role as vice president, Spencer created the independent office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech’s annual fraternity advisor of the year award is named the Spencer Award in his honor.
He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester, a master's degree from Syracuse University, and both a master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. Spencer is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Management Development Program.
In retirement, Spencer serves on the board of several non-profit organizations and in a variety of capacities for the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing 74 international and national men’s fraternities.
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.
