The Pamplin College of Business receives significant support from its 20 advisory boards and their nearly 480 members. Now, a new group of alumni and friends has been formed to promote communication and collaboration among those boards.

Established in the wake of the Pamplin Engagement Summit last October, the Pamplin Community for Leadership and Engagement comprises representatives from the advisory boards guiding the college and its departments, centers, and programs. The PCLE is led by a six-member board of directors appointed by Pamplin dean Robert Sumichrast.

“There has never been a mechanism to provide for communication, collaboration, and sharing of ideas and best practices among the boards,” said Jim Hatch (MACCT ’72), who will serve as interim chair of the PCLE board until it elects a chair and vice chair.

The PCLE will provide that framework, Hatch said, with the aim of enabling more effective, efficient, and strategic overall support for Pamplin and its units.

The PCLE itself is not an advisory board, Hatch noted, and is not authorized to recommend changes to the college’s boards. “Our mission is to strengthen the individual and collective impact of Pamplin’s advisory boards and to foster a stronger sense of community among them,” Hatch said.

PCLE members, who currently number 18, will serve a three-year term. The group, which held its inaugural meeting in December, will meet twice a year during the meetings of the Pamplin Advisory Council.

“We believe that great things can come from this association of volunteer leaders who share a common passion for Virginia Tech and Pamplin,” Hatch said.

PCLE board of directors

  • Jim Hatch, Interim Chair
  • Shirley Edwards (ACCT ’82), Pamplin Advisory Council
  • Negar Jamshidimehr (FIN ’11, MACIS ’13), Accounting and Information Systems Emerging Leaders Board
  • Kyle Korte (FIN ’02), Finance Advisory Board
  • Phil Moore (ACCT ’00, MACCT ’01), Business Information Technology Advisory Board
  • James Wu (ECON ’01), Marketing Industry Mentoring Board
  • Chris Xystros (ACCT ’84) Accounting and Information Systems Advisory Board