BLACKSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Tech announced Monday morning that President Emeritus Charles W. Steger passed away Sunday evening. He was 70.
Steger served as Virginia Tech’s 15th president from 2000 to 2014.
During that time, Steger accomplished many major feats such as the university’s enrollment growing from 28,000 to 31,000, more than $1 billion raised in private funding and joining the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Steger also led the university through its darkest days following the 2007 campus mass shooting that left 32 faculty members and students dead.
“No organization, no matter how big or small, rises above its leadership and Charles Steger was that leader who took Virginia Tech to new heights only dreamed of before,” Virginia Tech alumnus, Ben Davenport, said.
The current president, Timothy Sands, called Steger a visionary who dedicated himself to the university.
Senator Mark Warner said Steger was an advocate for educational opportunity for all Virginians at every level.
Steger is survived by his wife, Janet, and two sons.
