BLACKSBURG, Va., July 8, 2004 – Karen Eley Sanders, of Blacksburg, has been named assistant provost and director of Academic Support Services at Virginia Tech, effective Aug. 1.
Sanders has served as director of the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence since July 2001.
In her new position, Sanders will oversee the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence, Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP), Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, university-wide academic support initiatives, and Pipeline programs, which are designed to create early exposure to college opportunities for potential students at an early age.
"We were extremely pleased to attract Dr. Sanders to her present position, and now the opportunity presents itself to utilize further her professional talents in this broader responsibility of academic support services," said David R. Ford, vice provost for academic affairs, in making the announcement.
"Karen's appointment reflects the university's commitment to the success and mission of MAOP and its role as a university-wide resource," said Patricia B. Hyer, associate provost for academic administration. MAOP had reported to Hyer, but the program will move under Ford with Sanders's appointment.
Before joining the administration at Virginia Tech, Sanders spent nine years at the University of Arkansas, where she directed Minority Education Services from 1997-2001 and the Boyer Advising Center from 1992-1997. She has been a program analyst for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va., and has taught at the University of Illinois and Virginia State University, where she also coordinated the Enrichment in the Sciences Program.
She has made presentations at conferences throughout the country and is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, among them the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University of Arkansas Faculty/Staff Award and the American Association for Higher Education Black Caucus Outstanding Dissertation Award. She was recognized by the Virginia Tech Black Caucus in 2003 for contributions in campus and community outreach and in 2002 for service to students. She is listed in several Who's Who publications, most recently Who's Who in Executives and Professionals 2003-04, and Who's Who Among African Americans 2001-04.
Sanders earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and a master's degree in clinical psychology at Virginia State University, and a Ph.D. in education at the University of Arkansas. She acquired a Developmental Education Specialist designation from Appalachian State University.
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech has grown to become the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Virginia Tech's eight colleges are dedicated to putting knowledge to work through teaching, research, and outreach activities and to fulfilling its vision to be among the top 30 research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.