Charles W. Steger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles W. Steger
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| 15th President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | |
| In office January 7, 2000 – May 31, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Paul E. Torgersen |
| Succeeded by | Timothy D. Sands |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles William Steger Jr.
June 16, 1947 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | May 6, 2018 (aged 70) Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech (BA, PhD) |
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Charles William Steger Jr. (born June 16, 1947 – died May 6, 2018) was an American architect and engineer. He was the 15th president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). This university is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States.
Charles Steger graduated from Virginia Tech in 1969. He also earned his master's degree in architecture there. Later, he received his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the same university.
Steger worked at Virginia Tech in many different roles. He was a student, then an instructor. As an instructor, he won two awards for excellent teaching. He also helped write a textbook that is still used today. He became a department head and then the dean of a college. He was the youngest dean of any architecture college in the U.S. Before becoming president, he was a vice president.
As Vice President for Development and University Relations, he led a big fundraising effort. This campaign aimed to raise $250 million. It actually raised $337.4 million, with help from over 71,000 donors.
On May 14, 2013, Steger announced he would leave his role as president. He was replaced by Timothy D. Sands on June 1, 2014. Sands had been a leader at Purdue University. Charles Steger passed away on May 6, 2018, at his home in Blacksburg.
What Charles Steger Achieved as President
In his first years as president, Steger worked to expand Virginia Tech's programs. He wanted to reach more people beyond the main campus. Under his leadership, Virginia Tech opened new centers. These included the Center for European Studies and Architecture in Switzerland. Another was the Washington-Alexandria Center for Architecture near Washington, D.C. Steger also helped create the Public Service Office in Richmond.
More recently, Steger helped start the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute. This institute focuses on important research. It works to find ways to end diseases. It also aims to increase the world's food supply. And it helps protect the environment. To bring different research efforts together, Steger also created the Virginia Tech Institute for Information Technology.
Awards and Special Roles
Charles Steger was chosen for the Governor's Commission on Population Growth and Development. He also served on the Board of Trustees for Hollins University. Besides being Virginia Tech's president, he led the Endowment Foundation Center in the Square in Roanoke, Virginia. Steger was also a director for the Boswil Foundation in Zürich, Switzerland.
The Swiss Ambassador to the United States and the World Bank asked Steger for his help. They wanted him to join a committee. This committee would create a foundation in the U.S. Its goal was to research how to reduce the impact of natural disasters worldwide.
In 1990, Steger was honored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Virginia Society of AIA in 1996. He also won the Outstanding Fund Raising Executive Award in 1999. This award came from the First Virginia Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.
Virginia Tech Shooting Event
Charles Steger was the president during a very sad event on April 16, 2007. This was when a shooting happened at Virginia Tech. It was a very difficult time for the university community. Steger called the event "a tragedy of monumental proportions."
During this crisis, Steger and other university leaders worked to support the students and staff. They focused on helping everyone cope with the difficult situation. The university worked with local and state agencies to respond.
