Charles Steger, PhD, president emeritus of Virginia Tech, was recently appointed to the Division of Earth and Life Sciences (DELS) committee of the National Academy of Sciences.
The prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that advise the nation on matters related to science and technology.
The original National Academy of Sciences was established as an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln in 1863. Its DELS committee carries out the Academies’ mission to provide independent objective advice in the areas of earth, life, environmental, and chemical sciences, and engineering.
“The work of the Academies is vital to our nation, providing proven leadership in the ability to help shape policy, and advance the pursuit of science, engineering and medicine.” said Steger.
This appointment is one of the most significant honors for an educator in the United States.
Dr. Steger served as president of Virginia Tech from 2001 to 2014. During his tenure, he created interdisciplinary institutes, grew the research portfolio by 250 percent, oversaw the creation of a medical school and concluded a fundraising campaign that exceeded $1 billion. He joined the Foundation’s Board in May 2016.