Dr. Ted Settle has extensive experience in economic development and engagement in both academic and corporate settings. As Director of Economic Development at Virginia Tech, he provided leadership to university activities and initiatives that generated economic development throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was actively involved at the state level in economic development policy and in leading a renewed focus on manufacturing in Virginia. He provided thought leadership that began with two state-funded regional R&D centers and resulted in five Tobacco Commission-funded research centers across the distressed regions of southern and southwest Virginia. He retired from Virginia Tech in 2010 and has been engaged in various consulting activities, largely related to the intersection of engagement and economic development. He has been active in TRE Networks and currently serves as a TRE Advisor.

Settle has been active in the national university engagement and economic development conversations for several years. He initiated and co-led the development of the week-long Engagement Academy for University Leaders. He is currently participating in the planning of a three day program on university-based economic development, Engaging Your University in Regional Economic Development. Within the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, he served on the Executive Committee of the Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity and served as chair of the Council on Engagement and Outreach.

Prior to the position in economic development, Ted served as Director of Continuing Education at Virginia Tech, Director of the NCR Management College at NCR Corporation with worldwide responsibility for management development, and Assistant Director for Academic and Health Affairs with the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Ted earned his B.S. in mathematics from Iowa State University, his M.B.A. from Harvard University, and his Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Michigan.