In a word: bumpy. My career path has been anything but linear. When I graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was already working part-time and decided to stay with that employer for another three years while I figured things out. My first full-time, “big girl” job brought me back to Virginia Tech in the Financial Aid Office. There, I learned far more about higher education than I ever understood as a student. I spent about a year in Financial Aid before relocating to North Carolina, where I leveraged those skills into a role as a Career Advisor with a grant-funded workforce development program. The program helped individuals earn industry-recognized credentials and connect with employment opportunities. That first year was challenging, and I made plenty of mistakes. But those experiences laid the foundation for the next seven years of my career. During that time, I held a variety of roles, including Staffing Manager, Career Advisor, Career Coach, Senior Career Coach, Business Development Manager, and Program Manager. I truly started at the entry level and worked my way up through hard work, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning. It’s important to note that none of this was part of the plan when I graduated with a Sociology degree concentrating in Crime and Deviance. What I discovered along the way was that human services is my calling. Helping people change the trajectory of their lives through coaching, guidance, and opportunity is what I do best. Service to others has always been at the heart of my work, even before I realized it. Looking back, coming to that realization felt like a full-circle moment. I finally understood that Ut Prosim—That I May Serve—had been guiding me all along. In 2024, I returned to Virginia Tech as the Undergraduate Student Services Coordinator for the Department of Sociology. In many ways, it felt like starting over. After seven years in the fast-paced world of workforce development, I was ready for something different. I took a pay cut and reinvented myself once again. What followed was more growth than I expected. I earned the trust and confidence of my supervisor, but more importantly, I gained a deeper understanding of what makes work meaningful. I learned that doing work you value matters. The people you surround yourself with matter. Feeling connected to a mission matters. Today, I can confidently say that every twist, detour, and reinvention along my career path brought me exactly where I needed to be. The road has been bumpy, but I wouldn't change it. Each step taught me something valuable, and every experience helped shape the leader, colleague, and servant-minded professional I am today.

I currently serve as the Undergraduate Student Services and Administrative Manager for the Department of Sociology at Virginia Tech—a title that's admittedly a bit of a mouthful. At its core, my role combines student-focused support with strategic departmental operations. While a significant part of my work centers on serving and advocating for undergraduate students, my responsibilities extend far beyond the student experience. I help support the overall success of the department by working closely with faculty, staff, alumni, current students, prospective students, and external partners. I oversee our student employees, manage day-to-day administrative and business operations, coordinate departmental initiatives, and help ensure that our programs, services, and people have the resources they need to thrive. What I enjoy most about this position is the opportunity to balance individual student support with a broader, big-picture perspective. On any given day, I might be helping a student navigate a challenge, collaborating with faculty on departmental priorities, planning events and engagement opportunities, or improving processes that enhance the experience of everyone connected to the department. Ultimately, my work is about connecting people, building systems that support success, and creating meaningful experiences for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and future Hokies.

What I love most about my job is the people I work with and the variety each day brings. No two days are ever the same, and that constant change keeps me engaged and energized. I have the opportunity to be creative, innovate, and design new ways for our department to connect with prospective students, current students, and alumni. At the heart of it all, I get to help people every day. Whether I'm supporting a student through a challenge, creating opportunities for engagement, or improving a process that makes someone's experience better, I know my work has a meaningful impact. That sense of purpose leaves me feeling both fulfilled and accomplished. I also value the flexibility my role provides, allowing me to be fully present not only at work but in other important areas of my life. And perhaps the most rewarding part is seeing the results of those efforts. It's the student who stops by the office just to say hello, the alum who stays connected to the department, or the moment I recognize a student's name on an incoming enrollment report and remember the role I played in helping them get here. Those moments remind me why I do this work. While my position and responsibilities have evolved over the years, the core of my career has remained the same: helping people, building connections, and creating opportunities that make a positive difference in the lives of others.

I would tell any potential candidate: if Virginia Tech is where you want to be, don't give up. Sometimes getting your foot in the door is the hardest part, but persistence pays off. Keep applying, keep building your skills, and keep looking for opportunities that align with your strengths and interests. Once you're here, a world of possibilities opens up. Virginia Tech is an incredible place to grow professionally because there are so many opportunities to showcase your talents, build relationships, take on new challenges, and discover where you truly fit. Your first role doesn't have to be your forever role—it can be the starting point for a career you never imagined. My own journey is proof of that. Sometimes the most important step is simply getting in the door. From there, you can create opportunities, demonstrate your value, and find your place in a community that invests in its people.

The professional achievement I'm most proud of isn't a specific title or accomplishment—it's my ability to grow, adapt, and continuously reinvent myself. Throughout my career, I've moved across industries, roles, and responsibilities, and each transition has required me to learn quickly, embrace change, and step outside of my comfort zone. I often describe myself as a chameleon. I'm able to adapt to new environments and changing circumstances while staying grounded in who I am and what I value. At the same time, I'm constantly looking for ways to improve, whether that's learning a new skill, taking on a challenge, or finding a better way to serve others. More than anything, I'm proud of the reputation I've built. I strive to be someone people can trust, a colleague others can rely on, and a professional who follows through on commitments. My integrity is incredibly important to me, and I work hard to ensure my actions align with my values. I've also learned that leadership isn't always tied to a title. Throughout my career, I've often found myself in positions where others look to me for guidance, support, or direction—even when I wasn't intentionally seeking a leadership role. Being someone who can build trust, bring people together, and help move a team forward is something I take great pride in. If there's one achievement that stands out above the rest, it's becoming the kind of person others know they can count on.