Jerry W. Via
Jerry Via is a native of Roanoke,Va., and received a B.S. from Roanoke College in 1971. He received a masters in zoology from the College of William and Mary in 1975 and completed the Ph.D. in zoology from Virginia Tech in 1979.
Via was hired by Virginia Tech's Department of Biology in 1979 to teach introductory classes in biology to first-year students. He also served as an assistant to the department head in biology, where he served as a departmental advisor and worked with overall operation and management of the department. He holds several certificates of teaching excellence, and he was awarded the Sporn Award for excellence in teaching freshmen subjects. He is a member of the Academy of Teaching Excellence. He served as the assistant registrar for timetable and scheduling from 1984-1985.
Via also brings to the dean's office many years of experience in advising students. In 1987, he was hired as coordinator for Academic Advising for Student Athletes and developed a support and monitoring program for student athletes. He held this position for 11 years.
Via's specialty is the ecology and natural history of birds. He leads many field trips for bird watchers to locales around the state and to Costa Rica. He gives many natural-history presentations for bird clubs and for the Virginia State Parks. He is returning to the classroom this semester in introductory biology.
"Once again, we consider ourselves to be very fortunate in bringing Dr. Via to our college as both assistant dean and biology faculty member," Bates said. "He is well known on campus as an excellent advisor and mentor for undergraduate students in all majors; and his many teaching awards attest to his ability to engage students actively in the learning process. He brings these advising and teaching skills to his new position, and the college's undergraduate students are the ones who will benefit most."
- Jerry W. Via
- 104 College of Science Administration Building (0405)
- Blacksburg, VA 24061
- viaj@vt.edu