Melinda West

Melinda West is Associate Vice President for Finance and University Controller for Virginia Tech.

West leads the university’s financial and accounting operations, which include the general accounting, financial reporting, fixed assets and equipment inventory services, cost accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bursar, and risk management units.

She also oversees the development of financial policies and procedures, fostering of strong university partnerships and collaboration, enhancements to university business processes, and other strategic initiatives within the Division of Finance. 

West brings more than 25 years of dedicated service, financial and accounting experience, and institutional knowledge to the position and previously served as university bursar, where she was responsible for the effective operation of billing, collections, and accounting functions for Accounts Receivable, Student Accounts, and other general receivables of the university and related revenues. Her office was also responsible for ensuring the financial integrity in the cash management of university funds and overseeing Virginia Tech’s compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, Red Flags Rule, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1996, West was the manager of general accounts receivable and loans/collections in the Office of the University Bursar from 1996 to 1998. She then moved to the Internal Audit and Management Services Department as a senior internal auditor before moving to the position of assistant to the vice president for finance in 2004.

West is a certified public accountant, and previously served as an auditor with the Commonwealth of Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts. West received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Radford University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Averett University.