Dr. Charles "Jack" Dudley

Former Director, recently retired

Dr. Charles “Jack” Dudley is a native of Athens, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia where he studied landscape architecture, political science and sociology. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1964 and completed his graduate studies at the University of Oregon with a Ph.D. in sociology in 1969.

After returning to the University of Georgia for five years, in 1974 he accepted a position at Virginia Tech, where he served as professor of sociology with research interests in social organization, social stratification and political sociology until 1990. While at Tech, he also developed a project with Gregory Justice in Theatre Arts leading to participation in a number of plays in University Theatre.

Dr. Dudley received an Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence in 1986, and was also elected to the Academy of Teaching Excellence.

Appointed director of University Honors in 1990, he has overseen the growth and development of Honors as an integral part of Virginia Tech.

In addition to his work with Honors, he was awarded the Harry S. Truman Leadership Award for his efforts with the DuPont Corporation and the Truman Foundation in creating the Emerging Leaders Workshop.

He is married to Larkin Dudley, director of the Center for Public Administration and Policy at Virginia Tech, and has two children and one grandchild.

Dr. Dudley’s interests include reading, theatre, art and politics. He considers, “Laughter as important as food and water to the good life.”