Isaacson, Miller Recruits 17th President for Virginia Tech
November 3, 2026 – Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Richard Linton as the 17th president of Virginia Tech. He succeeds Tim Sands, who announced his resignation in April. Greg Esposito and Julie Filizetti led the search with Kristen Andersen, Raul Bernal, Victoria Castillo, and Gabrielle Nayar.
“Virginia Tech is poised to make a generational leap as a public research university, and Richard Linton is the right leader to guide us forward,” said Jim Miller, rector of the board of visitors. “As a Hokie, Richard has a deep appreciation for what makes this university and its community so special. His extensive leadership experience, a career dedicated to land-grant institutions, and a strong commitment to fostering a culture of service uniquely position him to lead Virginia Tech into its next chapter.”
Mr. Linton became president of K-State in 2022, leading the creation and implementation of a strategic plan which significantly advanced student recruitment and success, research funding, philanthropy, athletics, statewide engagement, economic development, and a facilities master plan. Before that, he served as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University (2012-2022), department chair of food science and technology at The Ohio State University (2011-2012), and a faculty member in the Department of Food Science at Purdue University (1994-2011). At Purdue, Mr. Linton was the founding director of the Center for Food Safety Engineering and the associate director of agricultural research programs.
“My 40-year journey in the land-grant system began at Virginia Tech,” said Mr. Linton. “Having earned three degrees here, the opportunity to return home and serve as president of my alma mater is a true honor. I look forward to reconnecting with the Hokie community and working together to build on Virginia Tech’s proud land-grant legacy, embrace new opportunities, and expand our impact across the commonwealth and beyond.”
As the commonwealth’s largest and most comprehensive university and leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers about 280 undergraduate, graduate, and first professional degree programs to more than 38,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across the commonwealth and manages a research portfolio of more than $650 million. The school was founded in 1872.
A nationally recognized search firm focused on recruiting transformational leaders for mission-driven organizations, Isaacson, Miller has conducted thousands of placements over more than three decades. More than half of the firm’s work has been in academia, involving university presidents, college chancellors and deans. The firm has filled top leadership posts at Wellesley College, Washington State University, Miami University, Howard University, Bowdoin College, Dartmouth, NYU, Virginia State University, and the University of North Carolina, among others.
Related: Isaacson, Miller Assists UVA in the Recruitment of 10th President
John Isaacson, the firm’s chair, founded Isaacson, Miller in 1982. He has led searches in many areas of the firm’s practice. Mr. Isaacson has helped the firm develop its cumulative knowledge of the craft of search and has attended, with increasing interest, to the missionary purposes of institutions, the political and economic disciplines of specialized markets, and the emotional and intellectual learnings that leaders acquire in a committed working life.
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Mr. Esposito, partners, serves a wide range of colleges and universities in searches for academic and administrative leaders. Since joining Isaacson, Miller in 2010, he has completed several university leadership searches, filling president, chancellor, provost, and a variety of dean roles. His work has included several dean searches for business schools, colleges of veterinary medicine, and schools of engineering.
As a leader in the firm’s higher education practice, Ms. Filizetti focuses primarily on higher education leadership roles in public and private institutions, including presidents, provosts, vice presidents, deans and directors. She also conducts searches in a range of areas, including academic medicine, training and development, advancement, research, and technology. Since coming to Isaacson, Miller in 2007, Ms. Filizetti has developed strong relationships with many clients who turn to her for her ability to adapt to an organization’s needs and grow their leadership capacity.
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Ms. Andersen joined Isaacson, Miller as a senior associate in 2021 and her work has focused on higher education leadership roles. Her notable placements include dean of the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University, vice provost for enrollment at UNC-Chapel Hill, dean of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh, provost and dean of the College of the Holy Cross, and dean of Newcomb-Tulane College at Tulane University.
Mr. Bernal joined Isaacson, Miller as a senior associate in 2021. His experience in higher education includes roles in career services, enrollment management, and executive education and training. Most recently, Mr. Bernal served as director of career and professional success for liberal arts students at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to his work in higher education, he brings knowledge and experience working with non-profits, foundations, and international development agencies.
Ms. Castillo joined Isaacson, Miller as a search coordinator in 2021. She provides logistical leadership in searches and serves as the main point of contact with the client’s administration. Her work has included several dean searches led by Mr. Esposito for colleges of veterinary medicine and schools of engineering.
Ms. Nayar joined Isaacson, Miller as a search coordinator in 2025. She primarily supports searches focused on higher education leadership roles across public and private institutions.
Related: Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
