Susan Short

University of Washington

Biographical Abstracts

Following a distinguished 20-year tenure with the Virginia Community College System, Susan Short joined Virginia Tech in 2004 and has since advanced to a senior leadership role shaping the university’s engagement and outreach strategy. As senior associate vice president for Outreach and International Affairs, she drives initiatives that position Virginia Tech as a global leader in engaged scholarship and community impact.

Short has played a pivotal role in expanding the university’s engagement portfolio, advancing experiential learning, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Her work centers on aligning institutional strengths with community and global needs, resulting in measurable impact across Virginia and beyond.

She provides strategic leadership across key governance and advisory bodies, including chairing Virginia Tech’s Engagement Leadership Council and representing the institution on the board of the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. She extends her influence through strategic roles on national and regional boards, reinforcing the university’s leadership in engagement practice and policy.

Recent accomplishments underscore her impact at an institutional and national level, including leading Virginia Tech’s successful 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, hosting the 2025 Engagement Scholarship Consortium annual conference, and earning the inaugural President’s Award for Distinguished ESC Service.

Areas of Expertise

• Higher education administration and leadership
• Community engagement and partnerships
• Global engagement