Sherwood G. Wilson has been named vice president for administrative services at Virginia Tech. His appointment is effective July 10.

In making the announcement, James A. Hyatt, executive vice president and chief operating officer, said, "Sherwood Wilson has a strong record of leadership and facilities improvement including experience at Virginia Tech and other large universities. His executive experience and style will benefit Virginia Tech as we look to the future."

Said Wilson, "I'm humbled, yet excited, to return to Virginia Tech after too long of an absence. The experience I gained here enhanced my knowledge and advanced my ability to help other institutions of higher learning. I now look forward to giving back just a small portion of what I learned from this world-class university."

Wilson will be responsible for providing creative vision, leadership, and management for the university's facilities operations, which include capital design and construction, physical plant and utilities, transportation services and parking, the university architect, real estate management, human resources, campus police, and environmental health and safety.

Wilson is currently vice chancellor for finance and administrative affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he is responsible for many of the same areas he will oversee at Virginia Tech. He brings 30 years of facilities, construction, business, and financial experience in both private and higher education sectors.

Wilson received a bachelor of science in civil engineering technology from Fairmont State College in 1988, a master of science in architecture/building construction from Virginia Tech in 1993, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Ohio University in 2003.

Before earning his degrees, Wilson was director of facilities at Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, W.Va., and president and CEO of Tygart Valley Construction & Supply in Belington, W.Va. He served as project manager for Thor Inc. in Roanoke, Va., in 1988-89, and then worked at Virginia Tech as director of facilities management and later as assistant director of physical plant.

In 1995, Wilson went to Ohio State, where he served as director of facilities management for four years and then was promoted to associate vice president for finance and administration, a position that oversees a $100 million budget and 900 employees. He has been in his current job at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since September 2005.

Among his many achievements, Wilson received approval for a $12.5 million state and federal research grant for coal gasification and a $13.2 million research grant for clean coal technology, both at Ohio. He also planned and initiated a $285 million capital renovation and replacement for all dining and residence facilities at Ohio.

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