5:15 p.m., Oct. 28, 2008--Zenobia Hikes, UD alumna and former assistant to the vice president for student life at the University, died Oct. 27 from complications after cardiac surgery. She was 53.

Dr. Hikes served as associate director of admissions at UD from 1992-96 and as assistant to the vice president for student life from 1996-99.  She earned her doctorate in educational leadership, with an emphasis on administration and policy, from UD in 1998.

In 2005, she was named vice president for student affairs at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. After the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, she organized the University Convocation ceremony that was broadcast around the world.

Before joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Hikes served as vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Spelman College from 1999-2005. Before coming to UD, she served as assistant director of admissions and recruitment at Louisiana State University.

She earned her bachelor's degree, cum laude, in English from Spelman College and her master's degree in education from Georgia Southwestern University. In addition, she attended Harvard University's Institute on College Admissions in 1994 and Bryn Mawr College's Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration in 1993.

For more information on Dr. Hikes, click here to read the Virginia Tech In Memoriam page.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech