Virginia Tech, officially known as the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, is a distinguished public research university located in Blacksburg, Virginia. Established in 1872 as a land-grant institution, the university offers a wide array of programs across disciplines such as engineering, business, agriculture, and liberal arts, with particular recognition for its top-ranking engineering schools and its R1 position as a research-driven academic
environment. The university supports a diverse and international student body of over 34,000, fostering an inclusive and collaborative community. Its large campus, surrounded by plenty of nature, inspires the practice of numerous outdoor activities from kayaking to hiking.
Virginia Tech is based on Tutelo and Monacan lands, and a key feature of its commitment to Indigenous cultures is the Ati: Wa:oki Indigenous Community Center (ICC). The center serves as a gathering and study space, and the name “Ati: Wa:oki,” meaning “meeting house” in the Tutelo language, reflects its purpose. The ICC hosts a library as well as Indigenous art and artifacts representing various tribes, including the eleven tribes in the state of Virginia. The center provides an important space for reflection, learning, and community engagement with Indigenous cultures and histories.
Additionally, Virginia Tech offers an American Indian Studies Minor, providing students with an interdisciplinary curriculum to explore the past, present, and future of Indigenous communities across the Americas. Courses are taught by experts from a range of fields, including History, Anthropology, Law, and Art History, and provide students with a deeper understanding of global Indigeneity and its evolving definitions.
