Virginia Tech announced a huge hire this morning. Charles D. Phlegar has been appointed as Tech’s first Vice President for Advancement, and he will start his new job on July 1.

In this role, Phlegar will head a completely new unit of the University. Alumni relations, development and university relations have all been merged into one department, and Phlegar will oversee it all. Development is the fundraising branch of Virginia Tech, and the Hokie Club is officially under the development department, not the athletics department.

First, let’s get some background on Phlegar. He comes to Tech from Cornell, where he serves as chief fundraiser. He is in charge of their current fundraising campaign, which is on pace to raise $6 billion. He has more than doubled annual private income during his nine years at Cornell.

Phlegar grew up in Blacksburg, and he graduated from Tech with a BS in business management in 1978. He got his Masters in education administration, also from Tech, in 1987. From 1983 through 1987, he served as Assistant Director of the Alumni Association as well as Assistant Director of Sports Marketing at Virginia Tech.

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