Lance Collins Will Retire From Virginia Tech in 2027

The leader of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria plans to retire in January 2027.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in People

Modern academic research building exterior in Alexandria, featuring glass, steel, and a landscaped plaza in clear daylight. — Lance Collins, leader of Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus in Alexandria, will retire in January 2027 after overseeing the campus's major expansion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Lance Collins, the vice president of the greater Washington, D.C., area for Virginia Tech, will retire in January 2027. He has served in the role since joining the university in August 2020.

Why it matters

Collins served as the founding executive director of the Innovation Campus in Alexandria, overseeing the establishment of Academic Building One and the Institute for Advanced Computing.

Collins served 10 years as the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering at Cornell University during a career spanning four decades. His tenure at Virginia Tech began in August 2020.

The players

Lance Collins

He is the vice president of the greater Washington, D.C., area for Virginia Tech and a former dean at Cornell University.

Virginia Tech

This public research university operates the Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia.

Cornell University

This Ivy League institution in Ithaca, New York, oversaw the development of the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island.

The details

Prior to his work in Alexandria, Collins spent over a decade in leadership at Cornell University, where he was the first African American dean. He helped lead the team that successfully bid to partner with New York City for the development of the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island.

2002: Lance Collins joined the Cornell University faculty.
2010: Lance Collins became the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering.
2017: Cornell Tech opened its Roosevelt Island campus.
August 2020: Lance Collins joined Virginia Tech.
January 2027: Lance Collins will retire from Virginia Tech.

Market Landscape

Collins departure marks a transition for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus following his foundational work in Alexandria. His career trajectory mirrors the broader industry move toward establishing university-led tech hubs in major metropolitan areas.

The transition in leadership marks a shift in the administration of the Alexandria-based Innovation Campus. Current students and stakeholders may see changes in executive strategy as the university identifies a new leader for the D.C. area.

The takeaway

Collins leaves behind a legacy of building complex academic-industrial partnerships in both New York and Virginia. His four-decade career highlights the growing institutional focus on integrating engineering schools directly into tech-heavy urban environments.