Advisor of the month: April 2025

What do you enjoy about your role in advising?

I most enjoy getting to know students on a personal level. I think about talking with Damian about our cats and imagining a course about cats at VT, or meeting with Chris to reflect on how much he has grown in the last year, or reconnecting with Jenna after her study abroad program and hearing about how she navigated those challenges. Having these fun and meaningful moments while helping students strengthens our sense of community.

In what ways have you contributed to advising in your department/area?

I liaise with the Global Education Office and our Director of Undergraduate Programs. I created a neuroscience course equivalency database, a worksheet to help students identify goals and compare programs, and semester-by-semester plans of study with a semester abroad. I also coordinated provider info sessions and an international research panel for our students. By providing students and advisors with more information, we can have more meaningful advising conversations about study abroad.

What advice would you give to other professionals who want to make a difference in the life of their students?

Slow down and be curious. Sometimes when we’re busy, it’s easy to slip into question-answering mode rather than maintaining an exploratory mindset. Even just checking to see how a student is really doing before the meeting ends or asking for more information before giving an answer to a question can lead to more fruitful conversations and meaningful relationships.