2008 ORANGE BOWL GUIDE - HokieSports

2008 ORANGE BOWL GUIDE
uNIVERSITY pRESIDENT
Dr. Charles Steger
Now in his eighth year as
President of Virginia Tech, Dr.
Charles Steger has charted a
course to bolster the university’s
research enterprise and to
compete among the nation’s
premier research institutions.
Under his direction, the university
has adopted a strategic plan
that is guiding the growth
of the research enterprise,
fostering outreach initiatives,
and increasing quality across
all aspects of the academic
community.
In the minds of many, Steger
will best be remembered for
making the impossible a reality.
He will be forever credited with
University President
negotiating Virginia Tech’s
entrance into the Atlantic Coast
Conference — a 50-year dreamcome-true
for Hokie fans.
On a more tragic note,
President Steger will also be
remembered for his inspirational
leadership during the dark days
after April 16. The university
continues its healing taking its
cue from Steger, “moving on, but
not forgetting,” those who lost
their lives to madness.
Another of the most
memorable contributions of
Steger’s administration was his
role in the Higher Education
Restructuring Act, which took
effect in July, 2006. Steger
Virginia Tech Principles of Community
was one of the leaders among
university presidents who
helped define a ground-breaking
new relationship between the
Commonwealth of Virginia and
its colleges and universities,
that enables greater institutional
flexibility and potential for
growth. This legislation allows
Virginia Tech to perform longrange
planning, ensure a stable
and predictable revenue stream,
and ultimately ensure a quality
education for its students.
A hallmark of Steger’s
administration is his commitment
to students. Under Steger’s
leadership, the university has
reaffirmed its core mission
Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach to the
Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world community. Learning from the experiences that shape Virginia
Tech as an institution, we acknowledge those aspects of our legacy that reflected bias and exclusion. Therefore, we
adopt and practice the following principles as fundamental to our on-going efforts to increase access and inclusion
and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members:
We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning
based on mutual respect and understanding.
We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. We encourage open expression within a
climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the university. We acknowledge and respect
our differences while affirming our common humanity.
We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, national
origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective
responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these
issues through education, training, and interaction with others.
We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I
May Serve).
54 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 2007
of undergraduate education.
The university is dedicated to
fostering a research intensive
environment that offers
students an opportunity to learn
the scientific process while
enhancing their critical-thinking
skills.
Recognizing that students,
upon graduation, will be entering
a global economy, Virginia
Tech initiated a comprehensive
International Strategic Plan
and has doubled the number
of students participating
in international education
opportunities.
Steger’s ties to Virginia Tech
span five decades as a student,
professor, dean, vice president
and now president. While on the
faculty, he twice won teaching
excellence awards. When he
became dean of the College of
Architecture and Urban Studies
in 1981, he was, at age 33,
the youngest architecture dean
in the nation. His most recent
publications include book
chapters on the topics of the
business of education and the
university presidency.
Steger is past chair of the
Virginia Council of Presidents
and currently chairs the Virginia
Space Grant Consortium. He is a
member of the National Council
on Competitiveness and the
Association of Governing Boards
of Universities and Colleges. The
New Century Technology Council
awarded him its 2004 Compass
Award for visionary thinking
and leadership in the field of
information technology.
Steger is a Fellow in the
American Institute of Architects,
and holds the William C. Noland
Award for distinguished service
and accomplishments from the
Virginia Society of the AIA.
Steger received his bachelor
of architecture, master of
architecture and Ph.D., in
environmental science and
engineering from Virginia Tech.