Congratulations to Joe Sirgy on Retirement
On behalf of the Marketing Department, we would like to invite you to celebrate the retirement of Dr. M. Joseph Sirgy. Dr. Sirgy started his career as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in 1979. After a very distinguished career, spanning almost 40 years, Dr. Sirgy will be retiring at the end of this Spring Semester.
In his 40 years of service at Virginia Tech, Dr. Sirgy has accomplished and achieved many milestones. He has published extensively in the area of marketing, business ethics, and quality of life. His research record is truly outstanding. Dr. Sirgy has over 400 publications with a citation count that exceeds 30,0000. Dr. Sirgy is also the author of many books as well as an editor/co-editor of several book series. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Macromarketing.
Dr. Sirgy has also been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions. Most recent was awarded in 2019; the Macromarketing Society honored him with the Robert W. Nason Award for extraordinary and sustained contributions to the field of Macromarketing.
Dr. Sirgy has also impacted scores of students at Virginia Tech and beyond. He has won numerous awards for his teaching—for example, he received Virginia Tech’s Pamplin Teaching Excellence Award/Holtzman Outstanding Educator Award as well as the University Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 2008.
Given Dr. Sirgy’s unwavering dedication and commitment to his students, to the Marketing Department, and to the field, and because of all his outstanding achievements, we will miss his presence greatly.
Well Wishes for Dr. Sirgy
“You are an amazing professor! Your dedication and hard work is really inspiring. All the best for an amazing retirement! Enjoy your new chapter in life.” -Lina Kim
“I am proud of being one of your PhD students. I thank you for your teaching that has been encouraging and inspiring me!” -Chenting Su
“To Dr. Sirgy, congratulations for a very productive and successful career, and best wishes for a beautiful retirement, with Health and Joy always.” -Maria Hatzios
“Congratulations on your achievements in your academic career! I appreciate and will miss your warm personality, smiles, and kind greetings around Christmas! Wishing you all the best as you start a new chapter of your life!” -Jennifer Hsu
“You have been instrumental in my career, way back since 2009. You have been my mentor and we also became friends. My wish for you is to enjoy your retirement and experience a different Quality-of-life oppose to academic life in doing so.” -Stèfan Kruger
“Congratulations on reaching this retirement milestone Joe – Even though I know you will not stop working and producing important professional work. I will always be grateful for your initiative and energy devoted to creating and sustaining the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies. The Society has become a key international forum and networking organization for scholars studying social indicators and well-being. Thanks much" – Ken Land
“Congratulations on your retirement! I have very much enjoyed and benefitted from working with you on matters of business ethics, social issues and quality of life over the last 40 years. I think you have made a real contribution to Pamplin in these areas and improved the quality of life for all of us. Best wishes as you start a new chapter in your life!" – Rich Wokutch
"Joe is an eminent scholar, who will continue to write books and journal articles adding to his 30+ books and several hundred articles, with the 30,000 Google citations. He will continue to be a keynote speaker on Quality of Life and other conferences in exotic locations (may I carry your bag, please?) And he will continue to teach occasionally. Did someone say Joe is retiring? Joe, congratulations on your past and future accomplishments!
I know Joe better on the racquetball court, where he displays the qualities of a true gentleman; never argues a point, is never a hindrance, and is never wrong – that is, why he is always the referee! Fit as a fiddle, just like he was when we started playing 15 years ago. Joe, wish you all the best on your retirement, just don’t retire from racquetball." - Vijay Singal
"My heartfelt congratulations and good wishes to Dr. Joseph Sirgy on his retirement after an extraordinary academic career. He was my Guru and best friend during my academic career. I thank him immensely. The most professional, collegial, hardworking full of integrity person I have known. Joe wish you the very best in life onwards." - Vic Johar
"Congratulations on your very productive career and retirement. I envy you…you longer have to worry about classes and teaching online! I have really enjoyed working with you, and I look forward to seeing you around. Best wishes for your healthy and happy retired life." - Devi Gnyawali
"Congratulations -- and thanks -- Joe. You're contributions to the academy cannot be overstated. You embody the term "gentleman and scholar". I am proud to be your colleague and honored to be your friend. Please note: (1) your retirement is a step toward doing all the things you really wanted to do, but did not have time to do; (2) have fun. Going forward, I am hopeful our paths continue to intersect on various projects. All the best for whatever life's journey has in store for you, Joe; again, congratulations on your myriad achievements as scholar, and thanks for your friendship and endless gentility." - Clifford Shultz
“I’m sure you know how much I value your friendship and admire your research work and the huge contribution you have made to ISQOLS. I’m sure ISQOLS and your balance theory of quality of life will have a bright and long future. Best of luck, always, and I hope our paths continue to cross.” -Alex Michalos
“Joe congratulations!” -Roger and Marion
“Joe has contributed enormous positive to the academic and professional world, which includes those of us who have had the privilege of working with him. The Marketing Department and Virginia Tech have indeed been extremely blessed to have him on staff over the years.” -Anna Lau
“Best wishes and congratulations!” -Carol Graham
“Congratulations to Prof. Sirgy for a scholarly job well done as well as for social networking well maintained". – el-Sayed el-Aswad
“Congratulations, my friend! One of the best things that happened to me while at Virginia Tech was to get to know you Joe, a great mind and wonderful human being. Did I say you are also contagious! You got me hooked on QoL research big time… so many lunches and discussions together and with our PhDs, you were always generous with your help, innovative ideas, guidance, and time… you still are…. Because of you I feel that my academic and personal life is richer…. I know that our paths continue to cross. Thanks for being a great friend". - Muzzo Uysal, UMass-Amherst
"Joe, we fondly remember all our lunches, dinners, boat rides, movies, outings, and great get-togethers, not to mention the endless discussions and debates! Looking forward to more frequent fun times. Enjoy your retirement!" - Manisha Singal.
"Dear Joe, academics of your outstanding calibre do not retire, they just stop being paid by their university. I look forward to following your continued contribution, as a leader in quality of life research, for many years to come." - Bob Cummins
“Joe, you not only stirred my academic interest in quality of life, but also, through many kind and friendly interactions, you have enhanced my quality of life. Thank you, and congratulations on your retirement.” – Hilary Lips
"Congratulations to Joe on a well deserved retirement. He has, for years, been a mentor, friend, racketball partner, squash partner, Aikido partner and inspiration.
From the early days of ISQOLS to MIQOLS he has continued to innovate. No matter whether it was research or application, he always focused on making a difference.
We are all better because of his leadership. Best wishes for your new projects with the family." - C. B. Claiborne
"I feel so lucky and privileged to be able to work with you for many years now. You gave me many opportunities to advance myself, you introduced me to great researchers all around the world, and you inspired me to focus on quality-of-life issues. I have learned a lot from you. Thanks you! Congratulations on your retirement!" - Eda Gurel-Atay
"Professors like you Dr. Sirgy, never retire. I have known you ever since my doctoral research days and when I referred to your book, The Psychology of Quality-of Life (2002). It was a matter of reading a few chapters that I fell in love with the book. I have been an ardent admirer of your work and research. It was only in 2010 when I met you in person at ISQOLS in Bangkok, and came to know you as a person that I realised that it is not very often we come across individuals who can inspire, and most importantly, who are those true teachers students look upto. I have not had the good fortune of being your student per say; but for me you are my teacher, my guide, and my mentor. You are a true Professor who instills a new hope and optimism, and inspire many for some good work still to be done. You might not know, but you are like an Academic Father to so many - a role model for a Human, a Teacher and a Researcher. Your empathetic and patient listening, your authenticity, humility, and your thoroughness in your review comments are all par excellence. Your criticism is so constructive that it motivates one to take that big leap and not wanting to give up. Thank you for believing, thank you for being You!
I wish more power, best of health, and happiness to you and wish you all the very best as you embark upon your new journey. You cannot retire as there are many more lives yet to be touched by your works.” - Tithi Bhatnagar
Please email ababer3@vt.edu to add a congratulatory message.