Vision

CENI will be a national leader in research on the scholarship and practice of interorganizational partnerships and collaborative problem solving that attend to the complexities and persistent issues of educational systems. This includes being renowned as facilitators of community-engaged educational networks that are characterized by their sustained commitment to mutual learning and positive change.  

Consistent with CENI’s positioning within a university investment institute, CENI will also be known for its leadership in building sustainable, human-centered, research infrastructure that enables interdisciplinary scholars to amplify their research impact and meaningfully engage with the broader public.  

Mission

The Center for Educational Networks and Impacts (CENI) at Virginia Tech advances applied research and community engagement to address the complexities and persistent issues of educational ecosystems. We build and commit to long-term relationships with regional schools, museums, and programs for reciprocal learning and positive collaborative change. We operate with place-based research infrastructure to foster interdisciplinary engagement with Virginia Tech faculty and students.

The CENI Team

Jake Grohs
Jake Grohs | CENI Director
Phyllis Newbill
Phyllis Newbill | Associate Director of Educational Networks
Phyllis Newbill
Gary Kirk | Associate Director for Research-Practice Partnerships
Connect - Networks

History

In 2015, two previously existing offices on campus, VT-STEM and the Integrated Design + Education + Arts Studio, combined forces to form the Center for Research in Science, Engineering, Arts, and Design (SEAD) Education within the newly formed Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) at Virginia Tech. The Center updated its name in 2019 to the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts (CENI). Since the center was established, it has tripled in size. The Center hosts Virginia Tech’s relationship with the Science Museum of Western Virginia, as well as the Liaison Network with the Roanoke Center, Reynolds Homestead, and Montgomery County, Radford City, and Floyd County public schools. Center responsibilities include inspiring learners via large-scale events that bring learners and researchers together, connecting researchers to audiences for broader impacts of their research, building regional and statewide networks of STEM educators, and evaluating educational experiences of all kinds.