Zenobia L. Hikes, vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., has been named vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech. She will begin her new position Sept. 1.

As the chief executive officer for Virginia Tech’s Student Affairs division, Hikes will oversee 14 university departments, including student life, housing and dining programs, career services, student health, and recreational sports with an annual budget of $66 million and 970 employees. The vice president for student affairs serves as a member of the president’s cabinet, reports to the provost on divisional and student life matters, provides executive support to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, and represents the university on the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.

“Dr. Hikes really impressed the university community with her excitement and enthusiasm for students and student life,” said Virginia Tech Provost Mark McNamee in making the announcement. “She has considerable experience in student affairs leadership positions and is eager to make a difference. I have confidence she will do just that. We are thrilled that she is joining the Virginia Tech community.”

Hikes said: “Virginia Tech is an exceptional university. I am delighted to be selected as vice president for student affairs and look forward to bringing my energy and expertise to the campus. Specifically, my passion centers on shaping tomorrow’s leaders, while contributing to an intellectually stimulating and socially invigorating environment for all students.”

Hikes succeeds Landrum L. Cross, who retires June 30 after 22 years of service to Virginia Tech. Cross has been vice president for student affairs since 1995. Associate Vice President Ed Spencer will serve as interim vice president for student affairs beginning July 1.

Hikes has served as the chief student affairs officer at Spelman College since 1999. At Spelman, she provided leadership for 13 departments in student affairs, established Spelman’s Women of Excellence Leadership Series, and initiated several other leadership programs to empower Spelman students. Hikes received a $200,000 Corella and Bertram Bonner Foundation Enrichment Grant to improve community service opportunities for students and served as co-principal investigator for an Office of Women’s Health Initiative designed to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and hypertension.

With more than 20 years of administrative and leadership experience in the areas of enrollment management and student support services, Hikes has written and presented papers on race-specific student recruitment and retention, first-generation college admissions, and leadership development. Her successful recruitment and retention model for African-American college students has been published in Instructing and Mentoring the African American College Student: Strategies for Success in Higher Education. Hikes’ research also has appeared in ENCORE — Journal of the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts, Black Issues in Higher Education and the Admissions Strategist. Additionally, she co-authored a W. K. Kellogg/NERCHE grant on civic engagement and a Mellon Foundation grant on collegiate living and learning. She has served as adviser for a Goizueta Grant on 21st Century Leadership.

An advocate of ethical leadership and development, Hikes has provided expert commentary to several national media outlets, including CNN, NBC News, CBS News, Fox News, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the negative images of African-American women in hip hop music and its effect on society.

In addition to her professional experiences, Hikes has been active in both the civic and higher education arenas. Her civic involvement has focused on building multi-racial coalitions and empowering disenfranchised women and children. She has served on the boards of the Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition and the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Board for the State of Delaware.

Prior to her position at Spelman, Hikes was at the University of Delaware, serving as the assistant to the vice president for student life from 1996 to 1999 and associate director of admissions from 1992 to 1996. She also was assistant director of admissions and recruitment at Louisiana State University, Shreveport, from 1986 to 1992.

In addition to her career in student affairs, Hikes has been a high school English teacher in Georgia and media specialist for the Navy/Marine Corps Family Service Center in Okinawa, Japan, where she led public relations programs and media campaigns.

During her career, Hikes’ professional affiliations have included the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Southern Association for College Student Affairs, The College Board, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Hikes received her Ed.D. from the University of Delaware, a master’s from Georgia Southwestern University, and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Spelman College.

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