Virginia Tech announced Richard Linton as its new president Wednesday, months after Tim Sands said he would step down from the position after 12 years.
Linton, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and his PhD from the Blacksburg school, has served as president of Kansas State University since 2022.
During his time in Kansas, Linton launched a strategic plan that increased student enrollment, enhanced research and broke fundraising records, according to his biography. He faced criticism for shuttering the university’s LGBTQ+ student center in 2025 following state and federal-level changes to diversity, equity and inclusion policy on campuses.
Linton is expected to start at Virginia Tech in January.
Sands said in April he was stepping down as president one year before his contract ended, prompting concerns from some Democrats that the university’s board of visitors may have pressured him to leave so it could choose a new president before Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) appointed new members to the board. Spanberger’s appointees now make up four seats on the 14-person board.
In May, Spanberger removed the board’s rector, John Rocovich, alleging that he had violated the state’s code of conduct. Rocovich sued Spanberger and Virginia Tech in June to seek reinstatement.
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