Rosemary Blieszner, Alumni Distinguished Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and Interim Dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, was reappointed to a third term as Alumni Distinguished Professor by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Only 10 university faculty receive such an award, which recognizes extraordinary accomplishments and academic work across teaching, research or creative activity, and engagement; the appointment is for 10 years.

During her 41-year career at Virginia Tech, Blieszner has served in a number of leadership roles: Associate Director of the Center for Gerontology; Associate Dean of the Graduate School; Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; and currently Interim Dean of the newly restructured College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. Her successful teaching of undergraduate and graduate students garnered her membership in the Academy of Teaching Excellence and the University Alumni Teaching Award. Blieszner’s research on caregivers for people living with early memory loss and dementia has been recognized with funding from a variety of organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health.