Laura Belmonte became Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in August 2019. Prior to that, she was at Oklahoma State University for 23 years where she served as a faculty member in the Department of History, Director of the American Studies program, Head of the History Department, and Associate Dean for Instruction and Personnel for the College of Arts and Sciences. She is currently serving as the president of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations.

1. What is your favorite part of your job at Virginia Tech?

Being around brilliant, energetic, and caring people who share the commitment to making VT a premiere global land-grant.

2. What are you looking forward to doing most as a member of the CECE advisory board?

Learning from colleagues and determining how CLAHS might contribute to the center’s mission.

3. Who is one of your greatest mentors and what did you learn from them?

Dr. Mel Leffler, my PhD advisor at UVA. In addition to being one of the world’s preeminent historians of international relations, he is a humane, supportive, and demanding mentor. I cannot imagine my career without Mel’s lifelong guidance and inspiration.

4. What activities or hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?

My wife Susie and I love to travel more than about anything and about 33 countries into a life goal list of visiting at least 50 countries. We also love to hike, kayak, golf, and spend evenings with good friends over great food and wine.

5. What is the most memorable place you’ve ever visited?

So many possible choices. The Namib Desert, Stellenbosch, Botswana, and New Zealand are a few.