Dr. Edward F. D. Spencer
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Edward F. D. Spencer was appointed Vice President for Student Affairs on November 1, 2008 following the death of Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Hikes. He provides leadership and oversight for the 15 departments in the Division of Student Affairs, including areas such as housing and dining, career services, student activities, student health, recreational sports, and the corps of cadets.
He received a B.A. in psychology from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in student personnel administration in higher education from Syracuse University, and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Delaware. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Management Development Program.
Dr. Spencer began his professional career in Student Affairs at the University of Delaware in 1970 where he held three different positions. He came to Virginia Tech in 1983 as Director of Housing and Residence Life, became Director of Residential and Dining Programs in 1989, was named Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs in 1996, and, subsequently, Associate Vice President in 2004 and Vice President in 2008. While working in Student Affairs at the University of Delaware, he taught several undergraduate courses and most recently at Virginia Tech he has taught the graduate course “The American College Student and the College Environment.”
Some of Dr. Spencer’s awards include: the Melvene D. Hardee Dissertation of the Year Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators; the first Zenobia Lawrence Hikes Leadership Award from the Virginia Tech Student Government Association; Most Outstanding Faculty Advisor, Most Outstanding Chapter Advisor, and the Order of Constantine from the Sigma Chi International Fraternity; and Executive of the Year from the New River Valley Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Additionally, Virginia Tech’s annual Fraternity Advisor of the Year Award is named the Spencer Award in his honor. Dr. Spencer is known for a variety of professional publications and presentations, and serves on many local, regional, and national committees and organizations. In recent years he has concentrated his presentations and consultations on the nature of today’s college students and tragedy and recovery at Virginia Tech