Graduate School Departments

• Dr. Aimée Surprenant, Dean of the Graduate School  
• Dr. William Huckle, Associate Dean 
• Dr. Kevin Edgar, Associate Dean 
• Dr. Barbara Hoopes, Associate Dean for the greater Washington, D.C. area (office is in the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church) 

Location: Dean's Suite, Room 233, Graduate Life Center

Monika Gibson, Chief of Staff (540) 231-9564

Amanda Pettigrew, business coordinator (540) 231-8915

Julia Hazelwood, adminstrative operations coordinator (540) 231-7581

Graduate Admissions and Academic Progress assists over 10,000 applicants and more than 6,800 enrolled students annually, working closely with 90+ academic units across campus to recruit, process admission applications and support enrolled students’ progress to degree, including plan of study review and approval, preliminary and final examination scheduling, electronic thesis/dissertation review and approval, degree awarding, and mailing of diplomas. Advisors provide one-on-one drop-in or by-appointment advising  during business hours.

Phone: (540) 231-8636
Location: Room 120, Graduate Life Center
Email: grads@vt.edu 
Assistant Dean and Director: Dr. Janice Austin

The Graduate School sponsors three programs for graduate and undergraduate students who are parents of young children: an early childhood education program for children ages 2-5 and a parent support group. Visit our webpage to learn more.

Phone: (540) 231-9382
Email: childcare@vt.edu
Coordinator: Marin Riegger

The Office of Communications manages the communications program supporting the Graduate School and graduate education at all Virginia Tech campus locations. The Communications Director oversees the Graduate School’s website, print materials and social media efforts, and supports inclusion and diversity initiatives and graduate student recruitment. The director works with University News and communicators across the university’s colleges, departments, research centers, and institutes to highlight graduate students and their work.

Phone: (540) 231-8795
Location: Room 230, Graduate Life Center
Email: cathg14@vt.edu
Director: Cathy Grimes

The Data Reporting and Assessment Office provides data and information that supports and strengthens decision-making and planning for senior management and the University, and collaborates with colleagues within the Graduate School and across the university to collect, organize, and present graduate education-related data for assessment and reporting in various forms for a range of audiences.

The office is responsible for analyzing data and reporting outcomes, and for developing plans, strategies and methods for assessment projects within the Graduate School to form recommendations in response to observed/measured trends and outcomes.

Director: Kacy Lawrence

Location: Room 231, Graduate Life Center

Phone: (540) 231-6978 

By the Numbers webpage

The Office of Finance is responsible for coordinating financial resources and  operations for the Graduate School, providing a coordinated and integrated approach to resource management, and collaborating with other university offices to support the Graduate School’s program areas. The office also manages Graduate School-supported fellowships and assistantships and serves as a point of contact for assistantship management questions and concerns.  

Phone: (540) 231-0060
Location: Room 243, Graduate Life Center
Email: gradfinance@vt.edu
Director:  Gwen Davis

The Graduate School established and supports 14 Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Programs (IGEPs), hosts national conferences on interdisciplinary graduate education, and supports the Interdisciplinary Research honor society of graduate students (IDR). The School also manages the university's Individualized Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program.

Blog: Virginia Tech Interdisciplinary Graduate Education
Director: Associate Dean William Huckle.

The Office of the Graduate Student Ombudsperson serves as an informal, impartial, and confidential resource to help graduate students resolve issues and address concerns that arise within the university setting. Acting as an advocate for fairness, the ombudsperson provides information about institutional policies and works to help graduate students manage conflicts, understand the university system, and learn more productive ways of communicating.

Phone: (540) 231-9573

Location: Room 120, Graduate Life Center
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Email: gradstudentombud@vt.edu

Ombudsperson:  Bryan Hanson

The Office of Student Services, Inclusion and Strategic Partnerships (SSISP) promotes a diverse and inclusive graduate community. Inclusion activities and programs follow the model of Inclusive Excellence to improve the diversity of our student body, the success of all students at Virginia Tech’s Graduate School, and the climate for all staff, faculty, and students involved in graduate education.

As part of the SSISP suite, Student Services office provides advocacy, programs, and services that contribute to the professional and personal development of graduate students and enhance their quality of life. We support a vibrant graduate community and culture through a variety of events and work closely with other university offices to ensure that their services fit graduate students’ needs.

Services include information distribution; orientation; advising the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, managing the graduate co-op program, programming in the Graduate Life Center; and coordinating with SECL the management of the Graduate Life Center.

Location: Room 120, Graduate Life Center, 155 Otey Street

Email: grads at vt.edu

Assistant Dean: Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, (540) 231-6529

Student Services Director: Lauren Surface, (540) 231-9561

Student Services: (540) 231-2227

The Information Technology (IT) team provides development and infrastructure support for department activities, Graduate Life Center technology, and Student Information Systems used by the university. The team serves as the university Graduate Student Systems liaison with the Division of IT (DoIT). 

Phone: (540) 231-2081
Director: Jeremy Sippel