Penelope Ward Kyle became Radford University’s sixth and first female president when she took office on June 1, 2005. She came to RU with more than 30 years of experience in state government, the corporate and legal worlds, and higher education.

Upon assuming the presidency, President Kyle immediately focused on leading the university’s initiative to become one of the top 50 masters universities in the nation. The Radford University strategic plan “7-17”, completed in 2007, identifies four strategic directives – the investment in people, programs, global and local society and the future of Radford University.

Under President Kyle’s leadership, the university added its first three doctoral programs. The Radford University Board of Visitors, at President Kyle’s request, has increased its membership by four positions to provide an opportunity for more diversity within the governing body.

A native of southwest Virginia, President Kyle is a product of the Galax public schools system. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. She returned to SMU for her postgraduate studies in English. President Kyle received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law and later earned her MBA from the College of William and Mary.

President Kyle served as Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery for 11 years, under three successive governors. First appointed by Governor George Allen in 1994, she was reappointed by Governor James Gilmore, and then reappointed once again by Governor Mark Warner. Before joining the lottery, Ms. Kyle was a vice president at CSX Corporation, an international transportation company, where she became the company’s first female officer. Before joining CSX Corporation, she was an attorney with McGuire, Woods, LLP in Richmond. She also taught English for six years at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Va.

President Kyle serves in leadership positions on numerous educational, civic, cultural, professional, financial and volunteer organizations. She served on the Board of Visitors at James Madison University from 1984 until 1992 and on the JMU Foundation Board 1992 until 1994. She also served on the Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation Board from 1994 until 2000 and on the Board of Governors of Saint Christopher’s School from 1999 until 2005. President Kyle is currently a member of the Canada/US Fulbright Foundation Board, the Board of Directors of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of PRA, Inc., a publicly traded company.

Ms. Kyle is married to Charles L. Menges, an attorney and partner with McGuire, Woods, LLC. They are the parents of three children.