Summer's stories recapped
By Netta S. Eisler
Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 1 - August 25, 1994
In contrast to last summer's gale-force winds and large recreational-vehicle convention, this summer was relatively quiet on campus. Construction along Route 460 and on Stanger Street caused some traffic back-ups, but nothing like the hordes of RV's parked in every available spot last August.
As always, there were personnel changes.
Patricia K. Edwards was named dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Edwards, who had served as interim dean since March 1993, joined the faculty in 1974 as an assistant professor of urban affairs and planning. She became chair of the graduate urban-affairs program in 1980 and was promoted to associate professor. She became a full professor in 1986, and assistant dean for research administration in 1989. She holds Ph.D. and master's degrees in sociology from Virginia Tech and a B.S.in music education from SUNY/Potsdam.
Robert Q. Cannell was named associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. Cannell has been head of the college's Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences since 1987.
Michael C. Vorster, professor of civil engineering, was appointed associate dean for research and graduate studies for the College of Engineering.
William R. Knocke, the W. Curtis English professor of civil engineering, was named interim department head for the Via Department of Civil Engineering.
The search committee for the position of senior vice president and provost was formed, and began work seeking candidates for the position. Arts and Sciences Dean Robert Bates is chairing the committee.
The General Assembly approved funding the commonwealth's Pay Incentive Plan. The program is basically the same as last year, except that "meets expectations" will receive a one-step increase and "exceeds expectations" will earn a two-step raise.
The Hotel Roanoke Commission put bricks on sale for the Hotel Roanoke walk of names. The bricks, which cost $50 each, will bear up to two personalized, engraved lines. They will be laid at the Wells Avenue entrance, a 13,000-brick plaza and the conference center's main entry. The hotel is scheduled to open April 1995.
A consortium led by the South-East Consortium for International Development, with Virginia Tech as the lead institution, received a $20.58-million grant from the United States Agency for International Development to increase community participation in the conservation and use of natural resources in Senegal.
A watercolor portrait of William Addison "Add" Caldwell, the first student to register at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Virginia Tech), has been hung in the Caldwell Student Lounge on the third floor of G. Burke Johnson Student Center. The portrait, painted by Kuen Roberts Caldwell, great nephew of Add Caldwell, was donated by the artist and by William Addison Caldwell of Radford.