Jed McDonald

The Leadership and Service Award is presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees that epitomizes the spirit of Ut Prosim and provides leadership development and/or service opportunities that incorporate the values of leadership including congruence, commitment, collaboration, common purpose, controversy with civility, citizenship, and change.

This year’s recipient oversees the Dietrick Hall enterprise: including Deets Place, Xpress Lane Market, Futurebites, DXpress, Allee, D2, and the food truck operations. In this role, he collaborates with departments across Student Affairs—Advancement, the Corps of Cadets, Cranwell International Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Living Learning Programs, New Student and Family Programs, Residential Well-Being, and many more. He supports their work and provides diligent, well-planned services that consistently meet and exceed the needs for student engagement.

His impact reaches across the university, supporting divisions, athletic teams, and colleges with events, meals, and recruitment efforts. He leads a staff that often serves the local community beyond campus, welcoming visitors to Virginia Tech with their first meal in Dietrick Hall and ensuring camps, conferences, and organizations feel at home.

He is a strategic-minded leader who plans carefully and proactively, always working to make his team’s work easier and more efficient. He dives deep into challenges, investigates cost areas, researches equipment, and finds solutions that fit his team’s needs—always considering long-term sustainability and value. Recently, he uncovered a years-long accounting error that, while not impacting the bottom line, had undervalued the work and services at Dietrick.

But what truly sets him apart is his care for employees and customers, and his even-keeled leadership style. During busy, challenging days, he always makes time to listen to team members and students, advocating for those he supervises while encouraging critical thinking and system-building. He leads by example, never shying away from hard work—like the time he worked a seventh day, spending ten hours hand-cleaning a space to boost team morale and ensure standards were met.

His perspective and genuine care define his actions, and our department is better because of his contributions. Even in a year of shifting business volumes and new dining centers, his area maintained growth and broke revenue records. More importantly, he has helped shape a positive, supportive culture that benefits everyone.