BLACKSBURG, Va., March 14, 2005 – Gary L. Wamsley, of Blacksburg, professor of public administration in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, was conferred with the title "Professor Emeritus" by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board's quarterly meeting Monday, March 14.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who have given exemplary service to the university and who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech faculty for 28 years, Wamsley was a dedicated teacher and advisor in the Center for Public Administration and Policy in the School of Public and International Affairs. He contributed to the research on governance and administration, writing nearly 100 publications during his career and directing many sponsored research and development projects.
Wamsley edited the highly regarded journal, "Administration and Society," as well as the "Blacksburg Manifesto" and the "Refounding of Public Administration." He is an active member in the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Society of Public Administration. He received his bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.
The College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech is comprised of two schools, the School of Architecture + Design and the School of Public and International Affairs, and includes programs in architecture, art and art history, building construction, public administration and policy, interior design, industrial design, landscape architecture, government and international affairs, and urban affairs and planning. All programs strive to promote an understanding of the complexity of our environment and ways to improve that environment through thoughtful teaching and research in the design, planning, and construction fields. The college enrolls more than 2,200 students, offering 22 degrees programs taught by 130 faculty members.
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 research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg, and other campus centers in northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 170 academic degree programs.