Kay Hunnings, former associate dean of administration in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of associate dean emerita by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emerita title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1994, Hunnings served as associate dean for administration for the Pamplin College of Business for the last 15 years. In that role, she managed the college’s budget and finances assuring a continually improving financial position and managed all business and operations elements, making improvements to those systems. She created a culture of service, trust, and fairness in her office.

Hunnings played a key role in expanding the recruitment of a diverse college faculty and retaining underrepresented faculty. She was instrumental in the development of Pamplin’s Women in Business programs, a host of networking and professional development opportunities that aim to elevate women in business roles in every sector. Hunnings also served as one of five Virginia Tech leaders selected to participate as an Academic Leaders Network Fellow for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Prior to her work at Pamplin, she served as the business manager, secretary-treasurer, and then director of accounting and financial for the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Hunnings earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in 1979. She became a Certified Public Accountant in 1995 and earned her MBA from Pamplin in 2007.

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