News & Notices

The latest data released by the authoritative University of Michigan in its widely respected Survey of Consumer Sentiment has pundits worried. The second monthly drop in consumer confidence of 4.6% suggests declining consumer spending in 2025. The survey reported an unusually high jump of 1% in inflation expectations and a 12% drop in consumer durable buying conditions. Consumers may find the same amount of goods in 2025 unaffordable due to higher prices and a weaker economy. However, cutting American’s “consumerism” may evoke cheers from those who believe Americans are too materialistic.

The Federal Reserve is meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, and a potential interest rate cut could be on the horizon. If it happens, it would be the first cut since 2020.

A Buchanan County native, McClanahan has led the Virginia Tech Foundation since 2021. She was previously a state Supreme Court justice and president and dean of the Appalachian School of Law.

Phil Gramm and Donald Boudreaux’s op-ed “We All Pay the Price for Protectionism” (Aug. 13) is standard fare, and I have little disagreement with it about politically protected jobs and industries. Our “best and brightest,” as they write, fail miserably at driving a complex economy.

I am the founder and CEO of a company dedicated to helping business owners grow their government contracting businesses called BOOST.

When retired Justice Elizabeth A. McClanahan talks with people about how to achieve success, her counsel is straightforward: “Show up with passion, say yes to every viable career opportunity that comes along, and take the initiative to pursue these opportunities.”

Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently named five appointees to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Liz Lazor lives and works in California, but the young alumna always remains connected to Virginia Tech and never hesitated when asked to become a tri-chair for Boundless Impact: The Campaign for Virginia Tech.

John M. Pinkerton, the SunTrust Professor Emeritus in the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Business Law in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, passed away on May 19.

Derek D. Klock, professor of practice of finance in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor of practice emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Pamplin College of Business recently paid tribute to its 2024 Students of Distinction. Among the honors bestowed were the Ut Prosim Excellence Awards, which are accolades from the college level. These honors included the Outstanding Pamplin Senior Award, H. H. Mitchell Outstanding Leadership Award, College Service Award, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Excellence Award, Dean’s Advisory Board of Students President Recognition, as well as the First Honors Graduates.

Arthur Keown, professor of finance in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

George Morgan, Truist Professor of Finance in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1985, Kumar has dedicated his career to expanding Pamplin College of Business’s brand on the international stage.

A discussion led by CNBC’s Brian Sullivan during the Hokies on Wall Street event presented divided views among Virginia Tech alumni when assessing the current economic situation.

Navigating tax season can be a source of stress for many individuals. Virginia Tech finance expert Jesse Lineberry shares ways to stay ahead on tax season to avoid being overwhelmed as the April 15 deadline approaches.

The Virginia Tech media relations office has the following experts available for interviews this week surrounding issues in the news. To schedule an interview, please contact mediarelations@vt.edu.

Virginia Tech’s new Data and Decision Sciences Building has opened its doors to students, faculty, staff, and industry professionals ready to tackle some of the world’s most pressing data challenges. Completed in the summer, the 120,000-gross-square-foot facility houses multiple colleges including the Pamplin College of Business, College of Engineering, and College of Science.

The abrupt closing of First Republic Bank stirred fresh anxieties about the security of the banking system, unfolding less than two months after the back-to-back, historically huge failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

Plans after graduation: Guillen will begin working at the Charles Schwab Advice Academy in Denver on Aug. 14.

Outside of the Honors College, the seniors were active on and off campus to advance their personal and professional goals.

Academic Advising Initiatives, part of the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, recently announced the recipients of its 2023 advising awards. It's a mix of professional advisors, program directors, and professors with one common denominator: their guidance impacts their students for good.

The Graduate School recognized master’s and doctoral students as well as faculty mentors from across Virginia Tech’s campuses and programs for their work, honoring them with awards of excellence at its annual awards reception during Graduate Education Week.

A local finance expert is dispelling fears about the banking sector in the wake of the second largest bank failure in U.S. history. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has more:

The rapid collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, has caused ongoing worries about the stability of the nation’s banking system even as federal authorities step in to manage the crisis. Further anxieties arose with the federal takeover of cryptocurrency-focused Signature Bank — the third largest bank failure in U.S. history.

Sullivan effectively replaces Shepard Smith's hour, with a number of business day anchor shuffles.

Alia Wagenhoffer started her career in the industry as a financial advisor, serving clients for five years before having an "aha" moment.

The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus has named Feride Daku as its first director of finance and administration. Daku has served Virginia Tech for more than 25 years in financial, managerial, and leadership roles. She was most recently the associate vice provost for business administration, overseeing budget, financial planning, and resource allocation for the Executive Vice President and Provost, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, and departments in the provost's office.

The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame announced Monday that Virginia Tech legend Corey Moore is one of 22 new inductees to the College Football Hall of Fame. The class of 2023 includes 18 first-team All-America players and four coaches.

WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charles Schwab today announced the eight scholars to receive funding for the 2022-2023 academic year through its Charles Schwab Scholars in Financial Planning Endowed Scholarship program. Launched in 2021 by the Charles Schwab Foundation, the $3.5 million scholarship endowment provides financial assistance and career opportunities to students from underrepresented communities who are majoring in financial planning at seven partner universities.

Ruth Lytton, professor of financial planning in the Pamplin College of Business Department of Finance at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emerita by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Economists’ interest in land has waxed and waned over time. For the political economists of the 18th and 19th centuries, it was central to understanding the world. They believed that the distribution of rents from land ownership could explain the yawning gaps between the rich and poor, and all sorts of other economic ills. Economists cared less about land in the 20th century. Since the turn of the millennium, however, they have increasingly debated the impact that restrictive zoning laws have on the economic output of cities. The global financial crisis sparked an increase in research on the consequences of property slumps. Banks’ balance-sheets tend to weaken, and worried homeowners spend less, potentially triggering a recession. America’s housing crash during 2007-09 in particular was much studied.

Eric Johnston is a Brooklyn-bred and Virginia-educated family man with a passion for politics and supporting the next generation of leaders. His unorthodox career journey began in preparation for a career in the world of finance.

We couldn’t be more proud to announce that Sophie Dewaal, Virginia Tech alumna, recently made the Forbes 30 under 30 2022 list for Finance. Congratulations Sophie!

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry and Tech Athletics officially unveiled the first look at the newly-renovated Sanghani Player Lounge on Thursday. The 2021 renovation was made possible thanks to the generosity of Virginia Tech graduate and longtime donor Mehul Sanghani as part of a larger gift to Tech Athletics. The renovation also includes expanded offices and work space for Tech's player personnel and recruiting staff.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its All-Academic Team for the 2021 football season on Tuesday which included seven Virginia Tech student-athletes, three of whom are returning for the 2022 season.

The men's competition will be held from July 29 – August 1 at the Kasumigaseki Country Club just outside of Tokyo, Japan. The field was restricted to the top 60 golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). The world's top 15 players were eligible, with a country limited to four players. After that, players were eligible based on world ranking, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15.

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech cross country runner Peter Seufer became a back-to-back conference championship winner Friday morning, as Seufer blew away the field at the 2019 ACC Cross Country Championships held at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course on Virginia Tech's campus.

As some indicators point toward another recession around the corner, local economists say Arlington would likely escape the brunt of a downturn.