January 2008

Second Annual Black History Month Gospel Concert to feature Fred Hammond and special guests Zie'l

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Office for Equal Opportunity and the Office of Multicultural Affairs is pleased to announce Virginia Tech's Second Annual Black History Month Gospel Concert featuring Fred Hammond and special guests Zie'l, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, in Burruss Hall Auditorium. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 5 p.m.

Steering committee to guide university's remembrance activities on April 16, 2008

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech President Charles Steger has established a 21-person steering committee to guide the on-campus activities to be held on April 16, 2008, marking the tragedy that occurred on campus one year earlier.

Department of Music presents the world premier of a James Miley jazz composition in upcoming recital program

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech Department of Music faculty trumpeter John Adler and pianist Tracy Cowden will present a recital on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m., in the Squires Recital Salon located in the Squires Student Center on College Ave. adjacent to downtown Blacksburg.

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute researcher studies how In silico modeling helps predict severity of mitochondrial disease

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

A team of researchers in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States has revealed how mitochondrial diseases are passed from the mother to the next generation in a mouse model system.

School of the Arts theatre production, Abingdon Square, opens Feb. 15

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Virginia Tech Department of Theatre Arts presents Maria Irene Fornes' poetically written script, Abingdon Square.

In memoriam: Nicole Michelle Lee

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Nicole Michelle Lee of Derwood, Md., 2007 graduate from Magruder High School and a freshman engineering major from Virginia Tech was in a fatal car accident in West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008.

Office of Academic Assessment provides workshops on the program assessment process

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Office of Academic Assessment is once again providing a series of workshops on the program assessment process during the spring semester. The workshops will offer a wide range of resources to assist faculty and administrators as they focus on teaching and learning in their programs.

America's energy future topic of speaker series

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Michael G. Morris, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of American Electric Power, will be the first speaker in the Spring 2008 Energy and Environment Speaker Series at Virginia Tech.

Hay Relief Program helps ensure the vitality of Southwest Virginia's livestock industry

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

In cooperation with partners from local and state businesses, government agencies, and state legislators, Virginia Cooperative Extension has developed a cost-share program to respond to hay shortages in Southwest Virginia. Using a $500,000 grant from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Association will distribute payments to livestock producers in counties suffering the most from the drought.

Human development professor wins top national award

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Fred P. Piercy, professor and Head of the Department of Human Development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, was recently honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy Award from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Piano and composition profoessor receives his 10th American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers award

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Kent Holliday of Blacksburg, professor of piano and composition in Virginia Tech's Department of Music in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, has been honored with an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) ASCAPLUS 2007 Award.

Biologists use computers to study bacterial cell division

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

A group of computational biologists at Virginia Tech have created a mathematical model of the process that regulates cell division in a common bacterium, confirming hypotheses, providing new insights, identifying gaps in what is understood so far, and demonstrating the role of computation in biology.

Betsy Hale Bannan exhibition at Armory Gallery Jan. 30 through Feb. 29

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech's Armory Gallery, an art gallery operated by the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, presents "History Repeating: An Exhibition of Paintings by Betsy Hale Bannan" from Jan. 30 through Feb. 29.

College of Engineering to host open house for prospective students

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech's College of Engineering will hold its annual open house for high school and transfer students on Monday, April 7.

News and notes on Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine students, faculty, and staff

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Some recent, notable accomplishments by the faculty, staff and students in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech:

Free French and Francophone film festival Saturdays at The Lyric

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The annual French and Francophone film festival, organized by Virginia Tech's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, begins Saturday, Jan. 26 and will be the featured Saturday matinee offering at The Lyric theatre in downtown Blacksburg on Saturdays in February.

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute researcher investigates impact of nutrition on human health

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech recently welcomed its newest faculty member, Josep Bassaganya-Riera.

Scientists to study high-risk plant pathogen using small, unmanned aircraft

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

A Virginia Tech plant pathologist known for his investigation of microbial life in the lower atmosphere is using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a new, three-year study to detect, monitor, and forecast the spread of a fungus-like organism responsible for the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s and 1850s.

Kandinsky Trio and world-renowned violist Roger Chase featured artists on University Chamber Music series

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Virginia Tech Department of Music's University Chamber Music series concert with the Kandinsky Trio takes place Saturday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m., in the Squires Recital Salon located in Squires Student Center on College Avenue adjacent to downtown Blacksburg. This fifth concert in the series also features world-renowned violist Roger Chase.

Civil engineer explains how one insures all right of way issues are found before construction commences

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

When a potential public agency buyer conducts a title search in the state of Texas, as many as six different countries of origin may appear on the deed: the United States, the Confederate States of America, the Republic of Texas, Mexico, France, and Spain.

Business magazine names Virginia Tech among the best values in public schools

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine has ranked Virginia Tech 17th among the magazine's 2008 list of the top 100 public colleges and universities that offer "academic excellence at an affordable price."

Virginia Tech faculty recital Savour of Ice and Roses

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech Department of Music faculty Nancy McDuffie, Wallace Easter and Tracy Cowden present a recital entitled Savour of Ice and Roses: Musical Warmth to Chase the February Chill on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 8:00 p.m., in the Squires Recital Salon located in the Squires Student Center on College Avenue adjacent to downtown Blacksburg.

Common Book selection announced; integral component to the first-year experience

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech's Center for Liberal Education has selected Tracy Kidder's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Mountains Beyond Mountains" as this year's Common Book.

Woodland options for landowners course offered on-line

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program is presenting an on-line course on woodland options for landowners to give landowners an increased understanding of basic forest management principles and techniques as well as the ability to use this understanding to become better land stewards.

Lameness surgeon joins equine medical center faculty

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dr. M. Norris Adams has joined Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center as a clinical assistant professor in equine lameness and surgery. In this role, Adams will focus on elective orthopedic procedures and will assist with the expansion of the center's outpatient services program.

Michael Coleman named associate vice president for facilities

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Michael Coleman, executive director of operations at the University of Pennsylvania, has been appointed associate vice president for facilities at Virginia Tech. His appointment is effective Monday, Feb. 18.

Nominations open for alumni awards for outreach excellence, individual achievement, and team achievement

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Nominations are invited for the Virginia Tech university-wide Alumni Awards for Outreach Excellence (Individual and Team Achievement).

Industrial design student makes a case for computing on the move

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Daniel Hilgenberg, a graduate of the industrial design program in Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies, has invented a wearable computer case that will please people who need to stay on top of work even as they move around, such as those in mobile management positions, or people who just love to multi-task and want to be working while standing in line.

College of Engineering to offer nuclear engineering course work

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech's College of Engineering is now offering graduate course work that will lead to a master’s of engineering degree in mechanical engineering with a nuclear certificate.

University Community commits over 150,000 service hours; other schools join effort

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Following the fall 2007 VT-ENGAGE kickoff event on Oct. 16, Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff, family, and friends have pledged to perform more than 150,000 hours of community service prior to the university’s May 2008 graduation.

Producers to learn key risk management strategies at 2008 Agricultural Outlook Seminars, Jan. 22-Feb. 1

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with Virginia Farm Bureau and Colonial Farm Credit, has planned six outlook seminars in agriculturally diverse locations throughout Virginia to provide producers with key strategies to help manage risk.

Rep. Robert Goodlatte to speak at Agricultural Outlook Seminar in Weyers Cave, Jan. 31

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with Virginia Farm Bureau and Colonial Farm Credit, has planned an outlook seminar at the Weyers Cave campus of Blue Ridge Community College on Thursday, Jan. 31, to provide producers with key strategies to help manage risk. Rep. Robert Goodlatte, ranking member and former chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, will speak about the pending farm bill.

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. adds two associates

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

John Geikler and Michael Miller, both Hokies and experienced with large and small companies, have joined Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. (VTIP) as licensing associates.

Virginia Tech hosts 'Distant Echoes: Black Farmers in America' Jan. 14-Feb. 23; photographer John Francis Ficara to lecture Jan. 22