After 25 years with Virginia Tech, Don Pizzullo still finds energy in helping people connect — whether that means troubleshooting technology, introducing community partners to university resources, or teaching STEM concepts to K-12 students.

As senior program support manager at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center, Pizzullo rarely has two days that look alike. One might involve setting up audiovisual equipment and running wires. Another could mean creating surveys, supporting academic programs, coordinating events at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, or helping connect faculty expertise with community needs across Southwest Virginia.

Pizzullo came to Virginia Tech in 2001 after working in radio, television, and cable production. What began as a role as an AV technician and systems engineer role evolved alongside the Roanoke Center itself. Since joining Outreach and International Affairs in 2003, he has expanded his work far beyond technology support — earning a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Tech along the way.

“I quickly realized that I had found a home at Virginia Tech,” Pizzullo said.

Among the accomplishments he is proudest of, Pizzullo points to “the K-12 education and community outreach we have been providing here in Roanoke through activities like the Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab, ACE, summer camps, and the legacy of Roanoke STEAM Day.”

“Roanoke STEAM Day is an annual event that reaches on average 1,000 students from across Virginia and even students from as far away as Chula Vista, California,” he said.

Pizzullo also emphasizes the Roanoke Center’s broader role in the region, one that many people may not fully recognize.

“The Roanoke Center continues to connect and create new opportunities and partnerships in Southwest Virginia,” he said. “We help network people from across the university and the area.”

Outside of work, Pizzullo’s broadcasting background still occasionally follows him. Although he’s been off the local airwaves for more than 30 years, he sometimes meets people who recognize his voice. He is also an avid tabletop gaming enthusiast who serves as a game master at major conventions, including a national convention that draws roughly 3,000 attendees.

“It helps me to be a better educator,” he said. “That energy helps me keep the students engaged.”

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