Julie Ross, the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of the College of Engineering and special advisor to the president, has been named executive vice president and provost of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She will begin her new role on January 10, 2026.
Dr. Ross first joined Virginia Tech in 2017 to lead the College of Engineering. Over the past eight years, the college’s enrollment has grown by 28 percent and research expenditures have increased by 22 percent. Dr. Ross oversaw the development of new academic programs in biomedical engineering, computer science, and nuclear engineering, and helped to launch the Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, Virginia. The college also significantly expanded its scholarship opportunities and grew its endowment by 53 percent under Dr. Ross’s leadership.
Before joining the Virginia Tech faculty, Dr. Ross spent over two decades in various roles at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, ultimately serving as dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology. A chemical engineer by training, Dr. Ross has conducted extensive research on the role of fluid mechanics in infections regarding the cardiovascular system.
“I am honored by this opportunity to serve Virginia Tech and the faculty, staff, students, and community that make this an extraordinary university,” said Dr. Ross. “I look forward to working with them to take on the new challenges and opportunities ahead in this critical inflection point for higher education. Together, we will uphold our values and Principles of Community and continue working to build public trust in Virginia Tech as an innovative, effective, and efficient institution committed to the health and prosperity of the communities we serve.”
Dr. Ross received her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Indiana and her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Rice University in Houston, Texas.