The Center for Economic and Community Engagement has promoted Sarah Lyon-Hill to associate director with special responsibility for research development. 

In her new role, Lyon-Hill will work to enhance CECE’s project portfolio by helping team members build and sustain relationships with community and faculty project partners. She will also offer support for the design, planning, and implementation of applied research and technical assistance projects.

“I am thrilled to continue working with such a wonderful and passionate group of people. I look forward to supporting the team in producing quality research that aptly serves communities and organizations across the commonwealth,” Lyon-Hill said. 

She has worked for the center for 10 years, joining as a graduate student in 2011 and becoming an economic development specialist in 2014. Some of her recent work has been in the autonomous systems field, and she is currently working on an unmanned systems project for the National Science Foundation. 

She led the development of the Phase 1 proposal for the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which was accepted, making Virginia Tech a finalist for as much as $100 million in federal funds. 

She also guided the creation of GO Virginia Region 2’s 2021 Growth and Diversification Plan, and with Margaret Cowell, is a co-editor of “Vibrant Virginia: Engaging the Commonwealth to Expand Economic Vitality and Inclusivity,” available online on Jan. 31 from Virginia Tech Publishing.

“Sarah has emerged as a leader in our field, taking on increasingly complex research questions that contribute to developing opportunities across Virginia,” Director John Provo said.

Written by Julia Kell