Advisor of the month: September 2018
Brandi Quesenberry, Advisor of the Month for September. Advising Matters at Virginia Tech
Brandi Quesenberry
Department of Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
What do you enjoy about your role in advising?
As a faculty advisor, my favorite aspect of advising is developing relationships with my students. Virginia Tech is known for its wonderful sense of community, and I see my role as an advisor as a vehicle to build community amongst student and faculty populations, connecting our majors with their academic department and the greater university. I enjoy learning about each student and helping them discover resources and opportunities that will maximize their VT experience.
In what ways have you contributed to advising in your department/area?
As a new addition to our department’s advising support center, I designed a Majors’ Canvas site for communicating important messages regarding advising, graduation, job opportunities, and upcoming events. I also re-established our Undergraduate Student Advisory Board, which consists of 10 students across our three majors, who come together to advance the department’s mission to support our students during their time at VT and beyond. Furthermore, my experiences as an academic advisor helps inform my teaching and provides me with an enhanced understanding of the student experience. This insight impacts new course development and curriculum decisions, as well as shapes departmental orientation and first year experience decisions.
What advice would you give to other professionals who want to a make a difference in the life of their students?
Virginia Tech has so much to offer its students--and we’re constantly adding new programs and services. My advice is to learn about our campus resources by attending workshops, training sessions and networking events. We can best meet the changing needs of our students by staying current and communicating with our colleagues across campus. Of course, we must also create a welcoming and helpful environment for students through mindful interactions, active listening, and collaborative problem-solving, offering our students the type of advising that will assist them in achieving success as Hokies!