The Advancement Division has appointed Debbie Day as associate vice president for presidential priorities to help engage Hokies in support of two crucial areas of work that university President Tim Sands recently emphasized: access and affordability of higher education and Virginia Tech becoming a top-100 global research university.

"I could think of no one more qualified than Debbie for this important new role,” said Charlie Phlegar, Virginia Tech’s vice president for advancement. “With her longevity at the university, her institutional knowledge, her network of colleagues and alumni, and her experience at bringing communities of Hokies together for important collaborations, she is ideal for this position.”

Day has served the university since 1987, when she joined the alumni relations team. In her current position as associate vice president for alumni relations, she has helped lead the work of the university’s alumni relations officers while also playing an important part in high-profile projects such as last year’s celebrations of the university’s 150th anniversary.

The priorities that Day will focus on in her new position were highlighted by Sands in his most recent State of the University address, delivered Jan. 18.

“Defining Advancement’s role in supporting these priorities and developing effective strategies that involve colleagues from across the division is an intriguing new project,” Day said. “I’m excited to start learning, collaborating, and diving into this exciting and important work.”

Day starts in her new role on March 25. The division leadership will continue to collaborate with its assistant deans and chief advancement officers to oversee the important work of the alumni relations professionals within each college or program.

Day holds three degrees from Virginia Tech: a bachelor’s in communication studies, master’s degree in adult and continuing education, and Ph.D. in higher education. Most of her time working for the university has been in alumni relations, with the exception of directing the Office of Recovery and Support full-time for several years starting in 2008. Day’s ongoing role as a primary liaison of the university to families affected by the April 16, 2007, tragedy will not change.

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