Marvin H. Agee Distinguished Alumni Award

Vinod’s engineering career began at the Indian Institute of Technology, where he was awarded the gold medal for being the best-performing student. Vinod brought his ambitions to Blacksburg, where he graduated with an M.S. in 1968 and Ph.D. in 1972, both in industrial engineering and operations research. 

Upon graduation, he served the university in many capacities. From 1972 to 1985, he successfully assumed roles of director of software development, director of computing and information systems, vice provost and then vice president for computing and information systems.

Vinod is responsible for the creation of VTLS Inc. Under Vinod’s leadership, the company grew beyond the traditional university framework. Today the VTLS acronym stands for Visionary Technology in Library Solutions, and it became an international leader in integrated library automation, digital asset management, and radio frequency identification technology. With six offices around the globe, its customer base spanned more than 1,900 libraries in 43 countries. 

In southwest Virginia, VTLS received the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council Hall of Fame award. Vinod was a 2013 inaugural inductee of Virginia Tech’s Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame. VTLS’ global reputation allowed Vinod to sell the company in May 2014. He stayed on as Vice President of Global Expansion, and was able to travel one last time for VTLS, making two trips to Asia and another to Europe, to ensure a smooth transition of customers, technologies, and products.

Vinod’s activity and contributions to the library profession have spanned decades. He represented Virginia in the White House Conference on Library and Information Sciences, served on the legislative committee for library networking in Virginia, and is a former member of the White House Conference on Library and Information Services Task Force. Additionally, Vinod is a member of the Ut Prosim Society of Virginia Tech and the College of Engineering Committee of 100. He is a past member of the advisory boards of the College of Engineering and the ISE department.  He is a member of both the ISE Academy of Distinguished Alumni and the College of Engineering Academy of Engineering Excellence. Vinod and his family have generously supported Virginia Tech in so many ways, including contributions to both the department and Virginia Tech. Each year, Vinod contributes tickets to every Moss Arts Center performance specifically to ISE students, to ensure they have access to the arts. 

Vinod and his wife Ranjana currently reside in Blacksburg. They have two children, Krisha and Vishesh, and two grandchildren.