New director of Judicial Affairs appointed

Frances Keene

BLACKSBURG, Va., June 13, 2005 – Virginia Tech’s Office of Student Programs announces the appointment of Frances Keene, of Christiansburg, Va., as the director of Judicial Affairs. Previously the assistant director of Judicial Affairs, Keene has served for the past year as acting director.

Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, Keene served as co-coordinator of the University of Virginia's First Year Resource Center and subsequently as a graduate student intern and assistant orientation coordinator in its Office of Orientation and New Student Programs. Keene joined the Judicial Affairs staff at Virginia Tech in March of 2002 as the victim services adjudication coordinator, a position funded by a joint federal grant with the Women's Center, funded by the Violence Against Women Act. She moved into the assistant director role in July of 2003 and into the acting director role in July of 2004.

The director of Judicial Affairs provides leadership to the office responsible for administering Virginia Tech’s University Policies for Student Life. As the university’s chief judicial affairs officer, the director is responsible for advancing the educational goals of the university by administering a just, fair, and developmentally appropriate student disciplinary process. The director of Judicial Affairs reports to the associate vice president for Student Affairs.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Edward Spencer said: “I want to thank the search committee, and especially its chair, Ellen Plummer, for their excellent work with this search and for identifying such an outstanding director.”

Keene is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a master’s from the University of Virginia in counselor education with an emphasis in student affairs practice in higher education.