The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus has named Feride Daku as its first director of finance and administration. Daku has served Virginia Tech for more than 25 years in financial, managerial, and leadership roles. She was most recently the associate vice provost for business administration, overseeing budget, financial planning, and resource allocation for the executive vice president and provost, vice president for diversity and inclusion, and departments in the provost’s office.
“We are thrilled to have Feride join our growing Innovation Campus team,” said Lance Collins, vice president and executive director of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. “She has been a wonderful asset to the Virginia Tech community and will play a crucial role as we right-size our faculty and administration in preparation for our campus opening in 2024.”
“As a proud Hokie, I am grateful and delighted to join the Innovation Campus and work under the leadership of Drs. Lance Collins and Ken Smith,” said Daku, who started her new position Dec. 10. “This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to developing effective budget, fiscal, and administrative processes that maximize operational efficiency and improve service delivery in this unique place where research and education will converge.”
In her role in the provost’s office, Daku worked with department heads and vice provosts to manage business operations. She served as the main compliance officer for the division and provided analysis and support for major diversity programs and high-priority academic initiatives.
Daku was previously the director of finance and administration for the Office of the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education, where she was a key fiscal advisor, providing leadership for financial, human resources, information technology, and public relations aspects of the division. She developed financial models and projects that informed strategic planning and educational programs while facilitative strong partnerships with universitywide units.
Daku began her career with Virginia Tech in the Offices of Budget and Financial Planning and Residential and Dining Programs.
She holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration and an MBA from Virginia Tech. She also earned two bachelor’s degrees in finance and agriculture engineering from Tirana Agricultural University in Albania.