Stephen Parson honored with emeritus status

Stephen R. Parson, of Alexandria, Va., associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, was conferred with the title "Associate Professor Emeritus" by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board's quarterly meeting Monday, March 14.

The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who have given exemplary service to the university and who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty for 30 years, Parsons advised and counseled master's degree and doctoral students, served on numerous doctoral committees, and served as major advisor to 57 Ph.D. and Ed.D. candidates, helping these students to achieve their career goals and contribute to the profession of school leadership. He also contributed to research in education, writing two books and several articles in professional journals.

Parson also served Virginia Tech as vice president of the faculty of the College of Education, associate dean of the College of Education, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and director of the Roanoke Valley Graduate Center. He also served as president and member of the board of directors of the National Community Education Association. He is a member of the National Community Education Hall of Fame.

Parson received his bachelor's degree and master's degree from University of Northern Iowa, and an Ed.D. from Western Michigan University.

The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences embraces the arts, humanities, social and human sciences, and education. The college nurtures intellect and spirit, enlightens decision-making, inspires positive change, and improves the quality of life for people of all ages. It is home to the departments of apparel, housing and resource management, communication, educational leadership and policy studies, English, foreign languages and literatures, history; human development, interdisciplinary studies, music, philosophy, political science, ROTC, science and technology in society, sociology, teaching and learning, and theatre arts.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech has grown to become the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Virginia Tech's eight colleges are dedicated to putting knowledge to work through teaching, research, and outreach activities, and to fulfilling its vision to be among the top research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg, and other campus centers in northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 170 academic degree programs.