Mark Sikes

As the dean of students, Mark is Student Affairs’ foremost student advocate and leads a team of passionate, student-centered educators who support the entire student body and works closely with Virginia Tech’s colleges and administrative offices to embrace a focused pursuit of holistic student support and inclusion. He oversees the Dean of Students Office, New Student and Family Programs Office, Services for Students with Disabilities Office, and Student Conduct. Within the Dean of Students office, he also oversees First-Generation Student Support programs, which includes a living-learning community focused on first-generation student success; and the Interfaith Initiative, which promotes dialogue across religions, faith, and meaning-making communities for students, faculty, and staff.

He serves on the Vice President for Student Affair’s senior leadership team and represents the division on various university-wide committees, including the university’s Threat Assessment Team, the Care Team, and co-leads the Town Gown Committee (a partnership with Blacksburg’s deputy town manager). He also collaborates with academic deans and units for student success initiatives and works closely with campus and community leaders to deploy a comprehensive, collaborative strategy to support off-campus student success.

With over 25 years of experience in higher education, Mark previously served as the vice dean for student success at William & Mary from 2018-23 and the associate dean of students from 2007-18. Also, during his tenure at William & Mary, he served as interim dean of students from 2021 to 2022. Prior to these roles, his work focused on the first-year experience and student life at Gettysburg College and residential life at Towson University and Virginia Tech.

Over the course of his career, he has received numerous awards and accolades for his dedication and exemplary service.

Mark earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from William & Mary. He also earned a Master of Arts in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina.

He and his wife Trista have two children — a son, Parker, and a daughter, Campbell — who are excited to be rejoining Hokie Nation. He also enjoys playing tennis, cycling, and is an avid Syfy fan.

Mark's top five Gallup Strengths are: Futuristic, Strategic, Responsibility, Positivity, Connectedness.