Newman returned to Virginia Tech as vice president in 1945, and took over as acting president in 1946 when John Redd Hutcheson became ill and had to be hospitalized. He was appointed president a year later in 1947.
After serving as vice president at Virginia Tech from 1945, Newman took over as acting president in 1946 when John Redd Hutcheson became ill and required hospitalization.  He was then formally appointed president the following year in 1947.