H. Randall Edwards has had a career spanning over 45 years of distinguished service to higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He holds three degrees from Virginia Tech - all from the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.



Dr. Edwards began his career in the community college system, and played a major role in the education of emerging engineering students. He went on to serve the profession in administrative positions that have given him direct influence on program direction, faculty  hiring, and facilities development. Dr. Edwards has served as a professor, department chair, dean, provost, and president in the Virginia Community College system at Wytheville, Germanna, J. Sargeant Reynolds, and New River, respectively, and he has had a dramatic impact on the quality of higher education at each institution. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Edwards has a building named in his honor at New River Valley Community College in Dublin where he led the college growth from a one building facility with 2,300 students and a $3 million budget to a three building campus with 3,400 students and a $9 million budget over a span of 12 years.



Beginning in the mid-1990's, Dr. Edwards served as Executive Vice President for Administration, and then Executive Vice President for George Mason University (GMU) in Fairfax, Va. In this time, Dr. Edwards led a period of significant program and facility growth at GMU that was characterized by over $150 million in construction, and the establishment of major new campuses located in the Prince William/Manassas and Arlington areas. He has also led GMU efforts in the creation of the Potomac River Environmental Research and Education Center on Belmont Bay.



The quantity and quality of Dr. Edwards's service is a testimony to the preparation he received at Virginia Tech. Following selection as a high school All-American, Dr. Edwards was a scholarship football player at Virginia Tech, while still compiling an academic record that supported election to the honor societies Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi and Phi Beta Kappa. In the years since he left Virginia Tech, Dr. Edwards has been highly involved in an extensive list of community organizations. He has held leadership positions with hospital boards, Chambers of Commerce, Rotary clubs and churches throughout Virginia.



Dr. Edwards met his wife Anna at Virginia Tech and they have been happily married for 47 years. He and Anna have three children: Suzan Sadler, who is also a graduate of Virginia Tech, and sons Todd and Tomm. They also have six grandchildren: Stephen Sadler, Katie Sadler, Sophia Edwards, Penelope Edwards, Virginia Edwards, and Quentin Edwards. Dr. Edwards is an avid fan of the Hokies and in his spare time, he and Anna enjoy golfing and supporting the arts.