August 08, 2011

Reflecting on Kate Griffin's opinion article in today's Roanoke Times.

Take time to read Kate Griffin’s letter to the editor in today’s Roanoke Times entitled “More Defines Tech Than One Day” (http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/295463).  Kate, a 2009 graduate of Virginia Tech, reflects on Thursday’s lockdown and the attention immediately received by the national media.  I, too, pondered the thought that if the report had occurred on any other campus in the world, would it have been noticed?  In Griffin’s message, she lifts up a number of other events that took place during her tenure at VT including a no-hitter pitched by Angela Tincher, the multidisciplinary contributions to the award winning Lumenhaus, and the 2009 Relay for life – the largest collegiate Relay in the world!  I would add several other significant contributions provided by the Outreach Professional Development team.  These would include CPE’s implementation of a $17.2 million U. S. Army Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach initiative; the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnership facilitation of more than 4,700 Virginia Tech students enrolled in serving-learning academic experiences during the past year;  the Language Culture Institute hosting two groups of university-aged Indonesian students in the Indonesian English Language Study Program in addition to the Humphrey Fellow Long-term English Training Program; and the fact that over 93% of Talent Search seniors applied to college and for financial aid over the past academic year.  We will forever mourn the loss of 32 students and faculty taken from our community on April 16th.  May we continue to find ways to remind the national media that one horrific incident does not define our institution.  Hats off to you Kate Griffin for your thoughtful comments and your continued commitment to living out Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim, That I May Serve.

About the Author

Susan Short

Susan Short is associate vice president for engagement at Virginia Tech. She is responsible for advancing Virginia Tech's national leadership position in the areas of outreach and engagement. and is closely involved with communities, colleges, and centers to identify engagement opportunities for youth, students, scholars, practicing professional, and community members. Provides leadership for the Commonwealth Campus Centers, Continuing and Professional Education, Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement, Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships, Institute for Policy and Governance, Language and Culture Institute, Office of Economic Development, and Upward Bound/Talent Search. She came to Virginia Tech as the director of the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center in 2004.

In addition to bachelor’s degree in music from Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Virginia, Short earned a master’s degree in counseling/student personnel administration from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania and a doctorate in community college administration from Virginia Tech.

Short is passionate about leadership development, college basketball, professional baseball, classical music, and gardening.