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President Tim Sands

President Tim Sands

Leading Virginia Tech since 2014

About
Timothy D. Sands is the 16th president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a professor in the College of Engineering. Since joining Virginia Tech in 2014, President Sands has set the university on a course to become a leading modern, global, land-grant institution aligned with the needs and opportunities created by a rapidly changing world in the context of the evolving landscape of higher education.
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Tim Sands, wearing a suit, smiles while sitting on a stone bench with hands on his knees.

Meet Dr. Laura Sands >
Quarterly update to the Board of Visitors >
Statement archive >

Removing barriers for students

Virginia Tech Advantage

Fireside chat with NCAA President Charlie Baker, Nov. 11, 1 p.m. 

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Elevating institutional impact

Virginia Tech Global Distinction

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President Sands around campus

  • President Sands poses with a shovel of dirt alongside other Virginia leaders.

    Groundbreaking for the Jefferson Lab Data Center (JLDC) at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). From left to right; Jefferson Lab Director Jens Dilling, SURA President & Chief Executive Officer Sean Hearne, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil, U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, and Representative Rob Wittman. (photo by Craig Newcomb/Virginia Tech)

  • President Tim Sands and Dr. Laura Sands pose with Hoda Kotb.

    Hoda Kotb `86 (center), Dr. Laura Sands (at left) and President Tim Sands in Burruss. (Photo by Luke Hayes/Virginia Tech)

  • President Tim Sands poses with Brian White's family in front of a plane, along with the Hokie Bird mascot.

    President Tim Sands greets the new Vice President and Director of Athletics, Brian White, and his family when they arrived in Blacksburg on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Hedley / Virginia Tech)

  • President Sands looks at an image of Nikki Giovanni at the Nikki Giovanni's Immersive Experience at the Cube.

    Virginia Tech President Tim Sands visits the Nikki Giovanni Immersive Experience, which collaborators across campus helped create in tribute to the late poet. (Photo by Clark DeHart/Virginia Tech)

  • President Sands stands at a podium with Academic Building One behind him.

    President Tim Sands speaks at the grand opening ceremony for the Innovation Campus' Academic Building One. (Photo by Luke Hayes/Virginia Tech)

  • President Sands stands with reception guests Mayor D. Michael Barber, Mary Biggs, Kevin Byrd, and Mayor Michael Sutphin.

    President Tim Sands welcomes members of the Partnership for Progress executive team to a reception at The Grove, including (from left) Mayor D. Michael Barber of Christiansburg, Montgomery Board of Supervisor's Mary Biggs, Executive Director of the New River Valley Regional Commission Kevin Byrd, and Mayor Michael Sutphin of Blacksburg. (Photo by Ally Seaver/Virginia Tech)