Strategic Planning
The future of CALS
The CALS Strategic Plan will chart the course for our future direction and will outline our initial steps toward achieving measurable and sustainable objectives that move the college forward. We have identified four strategic priorities to guide our process that align with Virginia Tech's Beyond Boundaries vision: Advance our regional, national, and global impact; Elevate the Ut Prosim difference; Become a destination for talent; Ensure institutional excellence.
Virginia Tech's Strategic Plan
Advancing Beyond Boundaries
Advancing Beyond Boundaries was developed in collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and alumni across Virginia Tech's colleges, institutes, offices, and campuses, and shaped by partners and employers.
Read the plan »A Global Land Grant
Helping communities thrive — in Virginia and around the world.
Hover over the orange circles to learn more.
Health
From drug discovery research that fights infectious diseases to community outreach programs to battle the opioid epidemic, we are working in Virginia and around the world to find and share ways to increase the health of our communities.
Economy
The goal of helping economies thrive has been at the core of our mission since our founding nearly 150 years ago. We empower communities by growing future leaders through our 4-H and FFA programs, and building a workforce in our undergraduate and graduate programs. The knowledge that originates in Blacksburg is shared around the world through Virginia Cooperative Extension and our Agricultural Research and Extension Centers so that local economies can prosper.
Environment
Farmers are the original stewards of the land, and this is a mantle we will continue for generations to come. That’s why we are developing predictive environmental solutions that will empower everyone to be more resilient to changing climates, as well as leading projects to ensure everyone—from homeowners to Chesapeake Bay fishermen —have a steady supply of fresh, clean water.
Food
With the world’s population swelling to 9 billion by 2050, building a reliable food system is more important than ever. This means growing and raising food in a safe and productive manner that reaches people the world over and allows them to remain healthy throughout their lifespan.
Nov. 20 CALS Town Hall
Working groups
We have constituted four working groups to respectively focus on ways the college can advance these individual priorities. In collaboration with the Steering Committee, these groups will cooperatively draft the CALS Strategic Plan.
Priority 1
Advance regional, national, and global impact
We will be globally recognized for our research strengths, world-class faculty, and ability to integrate our learning, discovery, and engagement missions.
Members-
Patricia Donovan
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences -
Alan Ealy
Animal and Poultry Sciences -
Zach Easton
Biological Systems Engineering -
Haibo Huang
Food Science and Technology -
Kiho Lee
Animal and Poultry Sciences -
Janet Rinehart
Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise -
Jayesh Samtani
Hampton Roads AREC -
Daniel Slade
Biochemistry -
Christy Teets
Dairy Science -
Zhijian (Jake) Tu
Biochemistry -
Kang Xia
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences -
Megan O'Rourke
Horticulture
Working Group Chair -
Saied Mostaghimi
CALS Associate dean
Liaison to Steering Committee
Priority 2
Elevate the Ut Prosim Difference.
We recognize the integral connection between our land grant responsibility of access and opportunity, and our mission of service to humanity.
Members-
Rebecca Cockrum
Dairy Science -
Janet Donahue
Biochemistry -
Tim Kring
Entomology -
Tom Martin
Agricultural Technology -
John McDowell
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences -
Kim Niewolny
Agricultural, Leadership and Community Education -
Mark Reiter
Eastern Shore AREC -
Janet Spencer
VCE Southeast District -
Jonathan van Senten
Virginia Seafood AREC -
Katie White
Agricultural and Applied Economics -
Molly Wilson
CALS -
Olga Massa
Agricultural and Applied Economics
Working Group Chair -
Susan Sumner
CALS Associate dean
Liaison to Steering Committee
Priority 3
Be a Destination for Talent.
We will attract bold and dynamic faculty, staff, and students to a diverse and inclusive community to be a force for positive change.
Members-
Jonathan Auguste
Entomology -
Stephanie Brown
CALS -
Helene Doughty
Eastern Shore AREC -
Mark Estienne
Tidewater AREC -
Erin Ling
Biological Systems and Engineering -
Diana McHenry
Alson H. Smith, Jr. AREC -
Kathryn Payne
Southern Piedmont AREC -
Tracy Rutherford
Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education -
Hannah Scherer
Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education -
Mike Schwarz
Virginia Seafood AREC -
John Thompson
VCE Northern District -
Rob Williams
Food Science and Technology
Working Group Chair -
Matt Hulver
Assistant Dean
Liaison to Steering Committee
Priority 4
Ensure Institutional Excellence.
We will create opportunities to solicit and explore innovative ideas, inform resource allocation, and engage the university's systm of shared governance.
Members-
Susan Duncan
Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station -
Ben Grove
CALS Global -
Stephanie Hedrick
Agricultural and Applied Economics -
Patrick Hilt
CALS Research -
Joseph Oakes
Eastern Virginia AREC -
Scott Salom
Entomology -
Elena Serrano
Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise -
Sherif Sherif
Alson H. Smith, Jr. AREC -
Crystal Wall
CALS Fiscal Technician -
Kim Waterman
Food Science and Technology -
Tony Wolf
Alson H. Smith, Jr. AREC -
Neal Vines
CALS Director of IT and Distance Education
Working Group Chair -
Ed Jones
CALS Associate dean
Liaison to Steering Committee