Jamie Penven

Dr. Jamie Penven serves as the director of living-learning programs at Virginia Tech. In this role he provides leadership for living-learning programs and works collaboratively with faculty and staff to ensure all living-learning communities and Residential Colleges thrive and provide an environment that connects students in community and enhances student engagement and learning. Prior to this role Jamie served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Retention and earlier as the Director of Housing and Residential Life at Radford University. Before his service at Radford he served for 18 years in several roles at Virginia Tech in housing and residence life. He began his higher education career at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington as a Residence Coordinator.

Penven has extensive experience in the conceptualization, development, implementation, and operation of Residential Colleges and Living-Learning Communities. He is recognized as a trusted leader and knowledgeable expert for the work he has accomplished with the living-learning program at Virginia Tech.

Jamie earned a BA in Sociology at West Virginia Wesleyan College, a MA in Counselor Education/Student Affairs at Marshall University, and his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Virginia Tech. His dissertation explored the costs and benefits of residential colleges as perceived by senior housing officers and live-in faculty principals. Along with a fellow Virginia Tech Colleague Jamie launched the Residential College Symposium in 2014 and served on the Residential College Society’s inaugural executive team for four years, n He also currently serves as an Associate Editor with the Journal of College and University Student Housing. His research interests include, Residential Colleges, Faculty engagement with living-learning programs, living-learning programs, and the integration of student academic and intellectual life

• Favorite LLP/VT Tradition: My favorite overall LLP tradition is how each of our living-learning programs welcome students with a variety of events and activities every year during move-in week. It is heartwarming to see how students are starting to make friends and make Virginia Tech (and their LLP) their new home away from home.
• Ask Me About: I am originally from southern New Jersey but have lived most of my life in Appalachia (West Virginia and the New River Valley in Virginia. I am a Virginia Tech Alumni, having completed my doctoral degree in 2016. I did my undergraduate and master's degree at West Virginia Wesleyan College and Marshall University (respectively). My wife and I have two adult children, Savannah (a local artist, VT Alum, and program manager for the VT Center for the Arts), and Nate, (a Staff Sergent and librarian for the US Army Pershing's Own premier band). When I'm not on campus, you can find me out running our local greenway and trails.
• One Fun Fact: My wife and I are actively involved in dog rescue (mostly senior dachshunds or chihuahuas).