About
MOLLY

Hello! I am the Director of the Graduate Academy of Teaching Excellence, Instructor of Record in the University Writing Program, and PhD student all at Virginia Tech, where I study pedagogy and higher education administrative leadership. A lifelong resident of Blacksburg, Virginia, I am a passionate teacher, a committed leader, and an eternally curious learner dedicated to the Virginia Tech community.

​

Undergraduate Education

​

In 2017, I graduated from Virginia Tech summa cum laude with dual degrees in Creative Writing and Professional and Technical Writing. I was inducted to Phi Beta Kappa, and won the Outstanding Achievement in Fiction award. Upon my graduation, I accepted a project management role in the unit of the Vice President for Student Affairs, where I gained an eye for program development, rhetorical leadership, and student ethos. After five years, I chose to return to graduate school to expand my skillset and broaden my knowledge, with the hope of moving into a leadership position upon graduation.

​

Graduate Education

​

In 2023, I graduated with my Masters in English (Rhetoric and Writing Track). During my time in my Masters, I presented scholarship both nationally and internationally, published several first-author publications, and began my teaching journey. My research received multiple recognitions, including the Barbara Ellen Smith Award for Outstanding Graduate Research. Upon graduation, I was honored with the Hoffman Award for Outstanding Teaching.

​

Currently, I am working towards my PhD in Rhetoric and Writing, while pursuing certificates in Preparing the Future Professorate and Collaborative Community Leadership. In 2023, I was so grateful to be nominated as the Director for the Graduate Academy of Teaching Excellence, a collaborative organization with a mission of honoring and celebrating outstanding graduate student pedagogues. In addition to my administrative duties, I currently teach First Year Writing: Introduction to College Composition as well as Writing From Research. I've had the honor to continue to publish in multiple peer-reviewed venues, present my research globally, participate in grant funded projects, and receive recognition for my work. In 2024, I was awarded a College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Curriculum Innovation Grant for my work in diversity, equity, and inclusion in course development.

​

Outside Academia

​

Outside of my academic life, I live on a 40 acre farm in Giles County, Virginia, with my wife, two rescue dogs, one rescue cat, and fifteen horses. I am a dressage rider who competes at the international level, an amateur cook, a lover of video games, and a Swiftie. Prior to my academic career, I was a professional horse trainer and instructor and taught lessons for more than ten years to students ages three to eighty! My hobbies include tarot spreads, hiking with my dogs in the woods, gardening, learning about astrology, and playing Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. 

​

Future Hopes

​

In the future, I hope to continue my career in Higher Education leadership, either in the realm of Academic Affairs or Student Affairs. It is my lifelong goal to make a positive difference in the life of students, as well as make the university structure a kinder, more inclusive, and innovative place. 

​

​

​