Belinda Sturm has been named department head of the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech, effective July 25. Sturm will come to Virginia Tech from the University of Kansas, where she serves as director of the Kansas National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and is the Ross McKinney Endowed Professor of Environmental Engineering.
“We are excited to welcome Belinda to Virginia Tech,” said Dr. David Knight, interim dean of the College of Engineering. “Her exceptional record leading complex organizations, building and supporting interdisciplinary teams, and engaging in research and education at the intersection of public health, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship positions her to lead a department known for its impact, partnerships, and focus on addressing society’s most pressing challenges.”
Sturm earned her Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame and her bachelor of science degree in public health in environmental science and engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
