Erin Poff joins Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science as director of finance and administration

Erin Poff has been named the director of finance and administration at the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science. 

In that role, she’ll oversee the institute’s financial and administrative operations, a portfolio that comprises budget management, human resources, information technology, and communications.  

ICTAS is one of Virginia Tech’s seven research institutes, which enhance research at the university through strategic support for key programs. ICTAS focuses on nurturing promising interdisciplinary collaborations primarily through targeted seed funding and sophisticated shared facilities that give researchers the latitude to take projects in new directions and explore potential partnerships.  

“Finding creative, collaborative ways to maximize the impact of the resources we can leverage at the university to advance research is exciting to me, and I’m thrilled to be part of a team that’s dedicated to that mission,” Poff said. “I’m passionate about empowering faculty to move the needle forward on the projects that they’re most passionate about, and ICTAS does a remarkable job of making that possible in ways that strengthens Virginia Tech as a whole. It’s very rewarding for me to be in a position to use my experience to contribute to that effort.” 

Poff has built a wealth of expertise managing finances and operations through a series of progressively larger leadership roles at Virginia Tech, most recently serving as the assistant dean for administration and finance at the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. Among other accomplishments, she successfully implemented a new, flexible budget model during her time at the college and also managed its fiscal, facilities, health and safety, and information technology teams. 

She has also held positions in the Bursar’s Office, the Controller’s Office, and the former Biocomplexity Institute.

“We’re fortunate to have someone with Erin’s breadth of experience,” said Stefan Duma, the institute’s director. “We collaborate with organizations across the university to accelerate research. Erin’s ability to navigate a dynamic environment and build relationships will create new opportunities to expand our work, and she has consistently demonstrated a talent for leadership that enables both individuals and organizations to thrive.” 

Poff is a two-time Virginia Tech graduate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geography with a minor in geology and a master’s degree in public administration. She is currently working toward a second master’s degree in information technology.