Marlena McGlothlin Lester, Ph.D.

Title: Director of Advising

College/Department: College of Engineering

Years of in academic advising (not just VT): 21 years

Advising expertise or areas of specialization: Advising Administration, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, First-Generation Students, and Transfer Students

Leadership roles: Virginia Tech Administrative and Professional Faculty Senate, President, NACADA STEM Steering Advising Community Committee

What you enjoy most about mentoring: The part of mentoring I enjoy most is helping advisors see what I once needed someone to see in me. That experience taught me advising isn't just a transaction, it's a transformation and there's nothing I find more rewarding than helping other advisors carry that belief into their own practice.