P. Buckley Moss e-newsletter

Dear Friends:

I am so very, very honored to have been named a Fellow of Virginia Tech’s outreach programs and the University’s Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement. Please read Tech’s press release below:

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 30, 2013 – Renowned artist P. Buckley Moss has been named a Fellow of Virginia Tech's outreach programs and the university's Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement.

Her prominence in the arts, wide network of contacts, and extensive experience as an advocate for incorporating the arts into education will be major assets for Virginia Tech, according to Susan Short, the university's associate vice president for engagement.

"The arts contribute significantly to economic vitality and learning, two critical components of our mission," Short said. "We are delighted to welcome P. Buckley Moss as a Fellow and look forward to working with her as we expand access to outreach programs and experiences in the arts that inspire creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking."

Moss' work is represented in more than 200 galleries worldwide. A graduate of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, she has won numerous awards and was the subject of a PBS documentary, "Split the Wind."

"I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to many years of being part of the university community," Moss said. "Virginia Tech has done so much for so many people, and I'm happy to be part of an effort to promote the arts, which are so important both in the field of education and as a means of life enrichment."

Moss has dyslexia and is the namesake of a foundation, created in 1995, to encourage the use of visual and performing arts in educational programs, particularly those involving young people with learning disabilities. The P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education hosts an annual teacher's conference to share the latest methods of art-based education. Short pointed out that the Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement focuses on providing professional training, so Moss' foundation experience is directly applicable to her work as a Fellow.

An additional area of responsibility for Moss as an outreach Fellow will be to support the university's economic development efforts, particularly in the southwest and southside regions of Virginia.

The Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement was established in 1994 to foster best practices and innovation across professions and sectors. It is based at the historic Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, and is part of Virginia Tech Outreach and International Affairs.

"Through projects like the construction of the Center for the Arts and the creation of the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, we are increasing the prominence of the arts at Virginia Tech and in Southwest Virginia in general,” said Vice President for Outreach and International Affairs Guru Ghosh. "Having such a prominent artist working with us on new educational and economic-development initiatives will add to our momentum, benefitting both the university and the region."

Virginia Tech's Outreach and International Affairs supports the university's engagement mission by creating community partnerships and economic development projects, offering professional development programs and technical assistance, and building collaborations to enrich discovery and learning - all with the overarching goal of improving the quality of life for people within the commonwealth and throughout the world. Outreach and International Affairs leads Virginia Tech's presence on five continents; its regional research and development centers across the commonwealth focus on graduate education and professional development. Blacksburg-based centers are dedicated to student engagement, language, policy, and governance.

Written by Albert Raboteau.

On Wednesday, my son Chris and I attended a luncheon and met with Virginia Tech administration colleagues to discuss outreach engagement opportunities.

From L. to R.: John Dooley, Chief Executive Officer of the Va. Tech. Foundation; Guru Ghosh, Ph.D, Vice President for Outreach and International Affairs; me; Susan Short, Ph.D, Associate Vice President for Engagement and Director for Organizational and Technological Advancement; Dick Wall, Partner, Brumberg, Mackey, & Wall, P.L.C.; and my son Chris Moss.
I have been enormously proud to be a Hokie grandmother, and now I am looking forward to my role as a Fellow. Art has been my life’s passion and work, and education has always been very important to me. Because I am dyslexic and understand how challenging learning differences are, incorporating art into educational curricula is another of my passions.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech benefits the Center.

Love,
Pat

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