John Provo, Ph.D.

John Provo is Executive Director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Economic and Community Engagement, where he leads university efforts to advance economic engagement across the commonwealth. A “pracademic,” Provo has nearly 30 years of experience spanning higher education, government, and regional economic development.

He cultivates partnerships among businesses, communities, and the university to accelerate regional transformation, community innovation, and capacity building. Under his leadership, the center develops and implements collaborative initiatives that expand economic opportunity and strengthen communities throughout Virginia. Recent center initiatives have attracted support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, National Science Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Virginia’s GO Virginia program, regional foundations and nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and industry partners.

Provo holds a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning from Portland State University, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a bachelor’s degree in government from William & Mary. Prior to his academic career, he served in Virginia state government, working with the Secretary of Commerce and Trade on the implementation of major reforms to the commonwealth’s workforce development system.

Areas of Expertise:

• Regional economic transformation 
• University-based economic development