Virginia Tech Magazine
Alumni Association News -|- Summer 2006


New appointments in alumni relations

Taris Mullins
Taris Mullins, coordinator for alumni and community relations, works with programs that serve multicultural alumni. His focus will be the Black Alumni Organization and other international alumni constituencies. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Mullins spent 11 years at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., where he served in several community outreach and development positions. Mullins earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from West Virginia University and a master's degree from Coppin State University. He is currently pursuing doctoral study through the International Seminary in Plymouth, Fla.

Jan Wilson
Jan Wilson is the assistant director for alumni relations in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. She came to Virginia Tech from Lexington, N.C., where she ran her own consulting business specializing in event management and planning. Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an associate of occupational studies degree in culinary arts from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Previously, she worked for the Torino and Salt Lake organizing committees for the Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games.

Bonnie Gilbert
Bonnie Gilbert (M.S. family and child development '00) is the assistant director of alumni relations in the Pamplin College of Business. She has worked for the university in various capacities, serving in academic and career advising roles with the departments of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Communications, and Building Construction, and the University Academic Advising Center. Gilbert received her bachelor's degree from Bluefield College.



Alumni Board elects new officers and members

E. Ann Spencer
E. Ann Spencer '76

New Alumni Association President E. Ann Spencer (accounting '76; M.B.A. '84), President-Elect J. Thomas Carter (mechanical engineering '81; M.S. '83), and Vice President David E. Lowe (business administration '63) have begun one-year terms.

Spencer is the former associate vice president for administration and personnel at Virginia Tech and currently resides in Wyoming.

Carter, past president of the Palmetto, S.C., alumni chapter, resides in Simpsonville, S.C., and is a business analyst for Michelin Research.

Lowe, who lives in Newport, Va., is the former associate vice president for strategic partnerships at Virginia Tech. He retired from a 35-year career in the telecommunications industry, including holding the position of CEO at Bell Atlantic of West Virginia.

Also elected to the board's executive committee were Kevin W. Leclaire (economics and industrial systems engineering '95) and Roberta M. Minish (Ed.D., vocational and technical education '77).

The newly elected board member is Ryan M. Esleeck (finance '97). Incumbents who were re-elected to a second term were Carter, Drew Lichtenberger (finance '00), James L. Mahon (management '73; M.A. student personnel services '75), Cecil R. Maxson Jr. (building construction '52), and Spencer. Terms are three years.

J. Thomas Carter
J. Thomas Carter '81

David Lowe
David E. Lowe '63



Humanitarian Award nominations invited

Each year, the Virginia Tech Alumni Association presents the Humanitarian Award to acknowledge exceptional volunteerism that betters our society on a regional, national, or global scale. The award recognizes generous gifts of time and talent that enhance the quality of life for others.

Nominations for the award are encouraged by Sept. 1 and should be mailed to: Humanitarian Award Nomination, Holtzman Alumni Center, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Please include a brief summary of the nominee’s commitment to a humanitarian cause and why you feel he or she deserves the award.

football

Fall alumni events

For complete weekend schedules
and registration information, go to
www.alumni.vt.edu/reunion or call
the Alumni Association at 540.231.6285.


September 2 | Northeastern
Class of '81 Reunion
Corps of Cadets Homecoming
Graduate School Homecoming

September 16 | Duke
Class of '66 Reunion
College of Engineering Homecoming

September 23 | Cincinnati
Class of '71 Reunion
College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences Homecoming
College of Natural Resources Homecoming

September 30 | Georgia Tech
Class of '76 Reunion
Virginia-Maryland Regional College
of Veterinary Medicine Homecoming

October 21 | Southern Mississippi
traditional student parade
Class of '56 Reunion
Highty-Tighties Homecoming
Marching Virginians Homecoming

October 26 | Clemson
(Thursday night)
Class of '61 Reunion (Friday)
Pamplin College of Business Homecoming

November 11 | Kent State
'85, '86, & '87 Joint Class Reunion
College of Liberal Arts and Human
Sciences Homecoming
College of Science Homecoming

November 25 | Virginia
'94, '95, & '96 Joint Class Reunion
College of Architecture and Urban
Studies Homecoming


Virginia Tech