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2018 SPECIAL SESSION I


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 537
Celebrating the life of Dr. Charles W. Steger.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, May 30, 2018
 

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles W. Steger, president emeritus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, who led the university to unprecedented heights of academic achievement as one of the nation’s premier research institutions, died on May 6, 2018; and

WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Charles Steger earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech); afterwards, he pursued a career as a professional architect before returning to Virginia Tech as a professor in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS); and

WHEREAS, after Charles Steger became Dean of CAUS in 1981, the college’s research program grew rapidly, and he established locations in Alexandria, Virginia, and Switzerland, giving Virginia Tech a presence nationally and internationally; and

WHEREAS, Charles Steger helped shape Virginia Tech’s first core curriculum in 1981, and he was later appointed to develop the university’s statement of mission and purpose; as the Vice President for Development and University Relations from 1993 to 2000, he led the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history; and

WHEREAS, in January 2000, Charles Steger was appointed as the 15th President of the university, becoming only the second alumnus to assume the presidency in university history; he designed and implemented several successive plans to guide Virginia Tech into the future, each demonstrating a deep commitment to the school’s core mission of providing a high-quality undergraduate education; and

WHEREAS, during Charles Steger’s 14-year tenure as President, Virginia Tech’s undergraduate and graduate enrollment grew significantly, and the university greatly expanded enrollment of minority students and first-generation students; and

WHEREAS, under Charles Steger’s leadership, the university raised more than $1 billion in private funding and more than doubled its research expenditures, providing myriad new opportunities for students and enhancing the university’s ability to compete for major research grants and projects; and

WHEREAS, Charles Steger oversaw the construction of more than 40 buildings on campus, including the Moss Arts Center, expanded the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, and initiated a groundbreaking partnership with Carilion Health System, now the Carilion Clinic, establishing the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke and the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute for health sciences and technology creating an innovation district in Roanoke; and

WHEREAS, Charles Steger greatly strengthened Virginia Tech’s commitment to research that makes new discoveries to improve the lives and well-being of people everywhere; Virginia Tech is the only school in the Commonwealth ranked in the top 50 of the National Science Foundation’s ranking of universities with the highest sponsored research expenditures; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Tech’s eight research institutes―the Biocomplexity Institute; Fralin Life Science Institute; Hume Center for National Security and Technology; Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology; Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science; Institute for Society, Culture and Environment; Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute; and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute―provide world-class research; and

WHEREAS, during Charles Steger’s tenure, the Virginia Tech Hokies joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the 2004–2005 season; the university’s athletic teams have thrived in the ACC, earning multiple conference titles and making several national appearances; and

WHEREAS, with his calm and uniting leadership, Charles Steger guided the Virginia Tech community through the tragic mass shooting in 2007; his influence was essential in helping the community heal and recover after this event, and he became a leading advocate for emergency preparedness and updates to crisis communications and university lockdown procedures; and

WHEREAS, a recognized expert in many fields outside of the Virginia Tech community, Charles Steger volunteered his wise leadership on many committees and commissions, addressing issues such as higher education, entrepreneurship, technology, homeland security, the environment, and other global issues; and

WHEREAS, Charles Steger received countless awards and accolades for his personal and professional accomplishments, including the William C. Noland Medal from the Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the 2013 Tech Titan award from Washingtonian magazine, among many others; and

WHEREAS, after his well-earned retirement as President of Virginia Tech in 2014, Charles Steger served as executive director of the Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience, which facilitates discussion about the patterns and processes of urban and regional development with an emphasis on the long-term resilience of communities; and

WHEREAS, with his bold vision, unyielding devotion to students, incomparable work ethic, and humility, Charles Steger personified the university’s motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve); and

WHEREAS, Charles Steger’s legacy lives on through Virginia Tech’s enduring commitment to excellence and through the students he supported and inspired to achieve greatness both in and out of the classroom; and

WHEREAS, Charles Steger will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 48 years, Janet; his sons, Christopher and David, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Dr. Charles W. Steger, an innovative leader in higher education who ensured that countless students had the tools to become responsible and productive citizens of the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Dr. Charles W. Steger as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.