This fall, the Virginia Tech Department of Athletics launched a Deans Lunch & Learn initiative as a way to increase engagement with deans from across all Virginia Tech colleges.
Dr. Laura Belmonte, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and Dr. Aimée Surprenant, Dean of Virginia Tech's Graduate School, attended lunch in November and December, respectively, to kick off this new initiative. Both deans were invited to attend lunch with student-athletes in their respective college in the Student-Athlete Performance Center within the Merryman Athletic Center.
"Lunch with Dean Surprenant was a really cool experience because it's the first time I've been able to connect my athletic experience and my graduate experience here at Virginia Tech," said Ashley Smith, a computer engineering graduate student on the women's track and field team. "Both disciplines have individually challenged me to be better, and tackling them together has pushed me even more - sharing that story with Dean Surprenant and the other graduate student-athletes was a fantastic opportunity."
Hokie student-athletes are enrolled in majors across the nine academic colleges and the graduate school. The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences comprises the largest number of student-athletes at 226, and nearly 50 student-athletes are enrolled in graduate studies.
Invitations will go out in January to deans in the remaining colleges to request participation in the program during the spring semester.
Gallery: (12-20-2021) GEN: Deans Lunch & Learn
