Joseph Dupuy Eggleston II (November 13, 1867 – March 15, 1953) was an American educator, the seventh president of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech), and the 14th president of Hampden-Sydney College.

[1] From 1886 until 1889, Eggleston served as a public school teacher in Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.

[1] Two years later Eggleston was appointed as the editor and secretary of the Bureau of Information and Publicity of the Southern Education Board at the University of Tennessee.

Eggleston used many of his own experiences as a guide in writing the book; for example, Chapter XIV is entitled, "The State Superintendent of Public Instruction," and is an in depth study into the position and how it operates (pulling from his own experiences as state superintendent of Virginia).

For example, he hired a full-time business manager, instituted an annual budget, and had a dean deal with student issues.

[Eggleston also] persuaded a descendant of one of the founding Trustees to give a building (Morton Hall) in memory of his ancestor - the most generous gift the College ever received.

"[10] Only two years into his presidency at Hampden-Sydney College, it was noted that he was, "widely and favorably known as an expert in school affairs, and his services [were] constantly in demand in educational gatherings.

"[11] This theme of innovation in education continued through his terms as president of Virginia Tech and of Hampden-Sydney.

In 1952, a three-winged residence hall constructed by the Federal Works Agency between 1935 and 1940 at Virginia Tech was named for Eggleston.