Dani Backus, MS, PMP, SSGB

Position Responsibilities

As Senior Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Dani Backus leads the school’s Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) efforts and oversees institutional accreditation activities, working closely with senior leadership, faculty, staff, and students to support educational quality. She provides strategic guidance on outcomes assessment, data-informed decision-making, policy alignment, and institutional effectiveness to strengthen the student learning environment and advance the school’s mission.

Professional Background

Ms. Backus joined the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in 2011 and has held several leadership roles, including Director of Faculty Operations and Director of Information Technology, before assuming her current position. She brings more than 15 years of experience supporting complex, cross-functional initiatives in operations, project management, and quality improvement. Her work focuses on serving as a strategic partner to faculty and leadership, advancing continuous quality improvement, accreditation, and strategic priorities through systems thinking, process improvement, and collaborative problem-solving.

Awards and Honors

• VTCSOM Administration Excellence, 2022
• VTCSOM Director of the Year, 2019
• VT National Distinction Award, 2018
• Advance Auto Parts Leader’s Circle, 2008
• Bank of America Performance Award, 2006
• Anthem Team Award, 2003
• DIRECTV Achievement Award, 2001
• Federal Reserve Performance Award, 1999
• U.S. Navy Achievement Medal, 1995

Education and Training

• MS in Management; Minor: Public Administration, St. Thomas University
• Bachelor’s, Finance, Saint Leo University
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute
• Six Sigma Green Belt (SSGB), Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers