WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on the announcement by Radford University President Penny Kyle that she will retire at the end of the 2016 academic year:

“I congratulate President Kyle for her 30 years of leadership in the public and private sectors, and wish her the best in whatever her next chapter might bring.

“As Governor, I was pleased to reappoint Penny as director of the Virginia Lottery and proud to support her selection as the president of Radford.

“Since 2005, President Kyle has overseen remarkable growth in Radford’s academic program, its campus facilities and in its educational reputation. Under her leadership, Radford University now is consistently ranked one of the best colleges in the Southeast. The University also was an early leader in the national movement toward development of more environmentally friendly ‘green’ campuses.

“Penny Kyle’s energy and persistence have been a positive force in the New River Valley, and her leadership has impacted the lives and careers of thousands of young people who have earned a Radford University degree.”