The Virginia Tech College of Science has named L. Wade Stokes as its assistant dean of advancement.

Stokes will manage all development, alumni relations, and communications programs with the goal of elevating philanthropic support, in addition to its engagement and outreach with alumni, and helping plan strategic communications to boost the national profile of faculty, staff, and student research and education. He is the college’s first assistant dean of advancement, a newly created position.

“Wade brings an exceptional skill set to the Virginia Tech team,” said Sally C. Morton, dean of the College of Science. “He has a proven record of coordinating advancement activities across Wake Forest and helping to provide strategic direction to multiple deans and vice presidents. This experience will serve the College of Science, and its eight departments, the Academy of Integrated Science, and the School of Neuroscience as we move forward to contribute to the university’s Beyond Boundaries vision.”

Before coming to Virginia Tech, Stokes enjoyed a 20-year career in development at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. His roles included director of development for the School of Divinity, regional director of development, senior director of college development, assistant dean of college development, then most recently as assistant dean of college development and library development.

Stokes collaborated with Wake Forest administrators, department chairs and program administrators to develop priorities for the launch of a university-wide $1 billion campaign fundraiser, with $354 million dedicated to Wake’s College of Arts and Science.

Prior to his work at Wake Forest, Stokes served as a national accounts manager for Graphic Packaging Corp., a company that designed and manufactured flexible packaging for consumer medical and food products.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in politics from Wake Forest in 1983.

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