Roderick Hall named associate vice president of research

Roderick Hall of Christiansburg, Va., has returned to the Office of Research as the associate vice president for research at Virginia Tech, announced Robert Walters, vice president for research at the university.

"Rodd's prior experience with the administration of the internal organization makes him extremely valuable as we undergo the leadership transition," said Walters. "Just as important to us is the ability that Rodd has shown in working to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and to facilitate the success of groups of researchers. His role will encompass much more than administration of the Office of Research. He will be my chief deputy as we move the research initiatives of Virginia Tech forward."

Hall has been associate dean for administration and research with the Pamplin College of Business since July 2006. He was named term director of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) in January of 2005 while a national search was conducted for the institute's inaugural director. During his service as term director, he also held the position of assistant vice president in the Office of the Vice President for Research, where he was in charge of all administrative functions.

Hall was associate dean for administration of the College of Engineering from 1998 until 2005, where his responsibilities included the financial and operational affairs of the college, facilitating the implementation of new initiatives, and for policy administration.

"My primary goal is to make it easier for researchers to do their work," said Hall. "Serving two colleges and ICTAS has given me a broad perspective on what faculty members need in order to be successful. Our primary objectives are to do everything we can to keep them focused on their research endeavors instead of administrative details, and to clear hurdles in their way to implementing new research initiatives."

Hall received his bachelor's in finance from Virginia Tech in 1986, his master's in business administration in 1989, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education administration on a part-time basis. Before joining the College of Engineering, Hall worked nine years for two of the university's affiliated corporations, serving as director of business services for the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and business manager for the Virginia Tech Foundation.