EDUCATION
John Chappell, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has been appointed to direct Virginia Tech’s Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (TBMH) Graduate Program. He succeeds Steven Poelzing, a professor at the institute, who has led the program for eight years.
Poelzing will continue to participate in the translational biology, medicine, and health program while turning his energy toward his research in the institute’s Center for Vascular and Heart Research.
Chappell brings extensive experience in student mentorship, recruitment, and program development. His vision includes expanding recruitment efforts to attract top-tier students and enhancing the program’s reputation for producing graduates who are not only skilled researchers but also leaders in the biomedical field.
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Chappell joined Tech in 2014 after completing a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds a doctoral degree and master’s degree in biomedical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia.
Jin-Hee Cho, associate professor of computer science in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been named the Stephen and Cherye Tyndall Moore Computer Science Junior Faculty Fellow by the university’s board of visitors.
The fellowship was established with a gift from Stephen and Cherye Tyndall Moore and enables the department of computer science to recruit, reward, and retain outstanding faculty. Recipients hold the fellowship for five years.
A member of the Tech community since 2018, Cho has excelled in research, teaching, and student mentoring in the area of cybersecurity. Her research has been supported by $6.5 million in external funding.
Cho regularly teaches cybersecurity and theory courses to graduate students located in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area and in Blacksburg. She is a researcher with the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and is affiliate faculty at the Virginia Tech National Security Institute.
A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, Cho received her bachelor’s degree from Ewha Womans University in South Korea, a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and master’s degree and Ph.D. in computer science from Tech.
Robert Davidson, professor and head of the department of accounting and information systems in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been named the R.B. Pamplin Professor of Accounting and Information Systems by the university’s board of visitors.
Established in 1994, the professorship is one of several established with part of the $10 million gift presented to the college by the Robert B. Pamplin family. It supports excellence in education in accounting and information systems.
A member of the Tech community since 2017, Davidson has developed expertise in the area of corporate corruption and white-collar crime. He is also a classroom instructor who plans to offer a Ph.D. seminar in capital markets next year.
Davidson previously taught at Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Business Administration and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
Juan Espinoza has been named vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech after serving as interim vice provost since January.
Enrollment management provides stewardship and promotes collaborative partnerships to achieve university strategic goals by attracting, enrolling, and graduating a highly qualified, talented, and diverse student body.
In his nearly 20 years at Tech, Espinoza’s leadership and experience in undergraduate admissions and enrollment management includes serving as an assistant director, senior assistant director, and associate director of undergraduate admissions. He also has served as inclusion coordinator and director of diversity and access initiatives before becoming assistant and later, associate vice provost of enrollment management and director of undergraduate admissions.
In 2016, Espinoza was appointed to serve on the Virginia Latino Advisory Board to help advise the governor on issues of concern affecting the health, economic, professional, cultural, and educational prosperity of the Latino community. He was reappointed to this role in 2018 and recently completed his final term of service under Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Espinoza is also a member of the board of VALHEN, the largest nonprofit in the Commonwealth of Virginia that focuses on higher education for Latinos. He previously served as president for eight years.
Espinoza earned two bachelor’s degrees in political science and public and urban affairs from Tech, a master’s degree in corporate and professional communication from Radford University, and recently completed his doctorate in higher education leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Christopher McDowell has been named the Joseph H. Collie Professor of Chemical Engineering by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The professorship is awarded to a visiting professor who has extensive industrial experience and expertise in production, marketing, and sales of chemical products to introduce chemical engineering students to advanced business and marketing concepts in chemicals distribution management. It was created in 1995 with a gift by its namesake, who received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tech in 1950.
Since 2022, McDowell has been the senior global technology manager in microbial production at Novozymes, leading the technology improvement, integration, and acquisition of the company’s worldwide microbial production facilities.
At Tech, McDowell has devoted himself to helping the department of chemical engineering by sponsoring bio-related design projects and serving as the project adviser to nine to 12 graduating seniors each spring semester.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Tech and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University.
Thomas K. Miller, professor of orthopedic surgery in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, has been honored with emeritus status by the university’s board of visitors.
The title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.
A member of the Tech community for more than 13 years, Miller made significant contributions to the university through his work in a wide variety of education, research, clinical care, and service endeavors, including serving as vice chair for the department of orthopedic surgery, section chief of sports medicine, medical student clerkship director, and director of graduate and undergraduate orthopedic education.
Miller has advised more than 120 medical students, resident physicians, and health professions students whose research projects covered a wide spectrum of clinically focused topics.
He has been recognized with prestigious awards from a variety of state, national, and international organizations including the Virginia Orthopaedic Society, the Southeast Athletics Trainers Association, Becker’s Health Care, the National Athletic Trainers Association, the American Journal of Sports Medicine, and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Miller received his bachelor’s degree from Bethany College and his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Peter Vikesland, a professor in the Charles E. Via Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been named the inaugural Pryor Professor of Engineering by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The professorship was established in 2019 with a gift from Charles W. Pryor Jr. to recognize teaching and research excellence. Recipients of the professorship retain the distinction for a period of five years.
Vikesland, who has been a member of the Tech faculty since 2001, is recognized as an international leader in nanotechnology and in the application of sensors for water quality monitoring. He is a distinguished contributor to the instruction of undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines at the university.
Vikesland leads large transdisciplinary research teams as evidenced by his leadership and involvement in several highly competitive and recently awarded grants, including a $3.6 million Partnership in International Research and Education grant from the National Science Foundation and a $8.8 million research grant from Flu Lab.
He is a fellow of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors and the Royal Society of Chemistry and has received a number of professional awards in recognition for his contributions.
Vikesland received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Grinnell College and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Iowa.
The Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation has announced four new at-large members to its board of directors: John Lugar, president, Virginia Varsity Transfer Inc.; Jamal Millner, president, M3: GRAFIX; Angela Penn, CEO and president, Total Action for Progress (TAP); and Craig T. Ramey, Ph.D., research professor and distinguished research scholar of human development, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.
The volunteer board of directors guides the foundation’s mission as an independent nonprofit organization supporting student scholarships, faculty development and endowment initiatives at VWCC.
Board members are the driving force behind Virginia Western’s Community College Access Program (CCAP), a public-private partnership that provides up to two years of tuition to eligible students, and the Virginia Western Forward Fund unrestricted endowment.
As of 2024, the foundation is led by: Deborah L. Petrine, chair; Russell Ellett, vice chair; Tammy Moss Finley, secretary: Chris Carey, treasurer; William Farrell II, immediate past-chair; and College President Dr. Robert H. Sandel.
FINANCIAL
Bank of Botetourt has hired Rita Joyce as assistant vice president – community development officer. She will work at the bank’s Melrose Plaza office upon its opening in early 2025.
In her new role, Joyce will partner with northwest Roanoke community members to promote financial well-being through education on the bank’s lending programs, deposit products, and other financial services designed to help current and prospective customers.
She will also create and implement community development strategies and plans to enhance economic and social well-being throughout the neighborhood and be available to facilitate mortgage loans and provide mortgage counseling services to prospective home buyers.
Joyce comes to the bank with several decades of experience in the financial industry and is an active member of the Roanoke community. She is a current board member of Virginia CARES, a program that helps returning citizens successfully reintegrate into society through assistance with job readiness training, job searches, transportation, restoration of rights, and more.
In addition to Virginia CARES, Joyce is also the current board president of FedUp, a 501© nonprofit. She has served on several other boards, including TAP (Total Action for Progress), Blue Ridge Mortgage Lenders Association, and the YWCA. Joyce also volunteers in the community with agencies such as The City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority and is a member of the Greater Williamson Road Area Business Association.
MEDICAL
Consuella Hoston has joined the Community Health Center of the New River Valley’s behavioral health department.
Hoston holds a Master of Social Work from Radford University and has experience in providing therapeutic services and support to individuals and families. She most recently worked at a private practice where she performed clinical assessments, developed treatment plans, and managed a caseload of more than 25 clients per week.
Hoston has a background in various therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care. Since 2011, she has worked in the behavioral health field with clients of all ages in the New River Valley.
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