The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus community gathered in Old Town, Alexandria to surprise Ken Smith, chief operating officer and one of the Campus' first employees, with a retirement party on June 22. Smith announced his intention to transition to the Virginia Tech Foundation (VTF) earlier that month. 

Lance Collins, Innovation Campus executive director and vice president, expressed his gratitude to Smith for his contribution to the Campus. Additional highlights included custom-made t-shirts with Smith's Zoom profile picture and a barbeque dinner. Smith also provided remarks to the group.

"I am extremely proud of the Innovation Campus team that Lance and I have assembled," said Smith about Lance Collins, executive director and vice president of the Campus. "We have grown from one to more than 30 employees in less than three years and I am confident that we have the right leaders in place to continue the campus through to its next level of development."

Smith has been part of the Innovation Campus team in Alexandria since moving there in October 2020. He has led the establishment of its overall enrollment, staffing and financial plan, the programming of its 300,000-square-foot new building, the hiring of more than 30 faculty and staff, and the overall integration of the Innovation Campus into the administrative structure of Virginia Tech in the D.C. area. He has also led successful efforts to improve university services for students and faculty living and working in the region.

He begins his new position as chief operating officer at the VTF on Aug. 15.

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