From transfer student to undergraduate advisor at Virginia Tech

What career path do you hope to take? How are you adjusting to college life? These are among the questions that Normand Adams, undergraduate academic and student support advisor for the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, asks students each day.

Adams, who earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in agribusiness management and environmental horticulture, followed by a Master of Science in agricultural and applied economics in 2020, guides students through their most pivotal academic moments and career decisions.

“It was always a dream of mine to attend Virginia Tech, but I knew that I wanted to first attend a community college and then transfer,” Adams said. “I was taking an agribusiness class at the community college with Dixie Watts Dalton, a professor at the time, who talked about this ‘thing’ I had never heard of called agricultural and applied economics. When I found out that I could combine both economics with my love for agriculture, I was sold.”

The journey from student to his current role began with a passion for agriculture, which grew during his time at Southside Virginia Community College.

“From the moment I first met Normand at Southside Virginia Community College, I knew he was destined to do amazing things,” said Dixie Watts Dalton, associate professor of practice in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. “I was excited that he took our agribusiness courses and utilized the transfer process to continue his education at Virginia Tech, where he excelled and earned Outstanding Senior honors from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He has been a tremendous resource to both the graduate and undergraduate programs. The department is fortunate to have him, and I am honored to be his colleague.”

Adams' strategy focuses on empowering the over 200 students he advises through active engagement outside the classroom. His advice for students, especially transfer students, stresses the importance of immediate involvement in organizations and clubs, such as AgEcon and the National Agri-Marketing Association, to make the most of their time on campus.

“Don’t isolate yourself in just the classroom,” Adams said. “Academia doesn’t sit in a silo, it is affected by everything going on in students’ lives.”

When he is not advising, Adams teaches a first-year experience class for incoming freshman and transfer students focusing on resource awareness and practical skills, alongside peer mentorship.

Having been profoundly impacted by his advisor, Frenda Haynie, Adams values the opportunity to ensure that every student has a transformative journey. He emphasizes that at Virginia Tech students can experience a blend of a large university atmosphere with a supportive, personalized approach in the department.

“As his former advisor, it is wonderful to see Normand come full circle as the new undergraduate advisor for the department,” said Frenda Haynie, his former undergraduate advisor. “Normand was a transfer student who made the most of his time by instantly getting involved. He became indispensable to both the department and college, always volunteering to help at orientation, open houses, and special events. Even as a double major, he still made the time for involvement in clubs and to serve the community as an EMT. All those student experiences make him a better advisor.”

“Being an advisor is all about serving the students and being there for them,” she added. “Normand embodies the university’s motto Ut Prosim and serves students with his deep institutional knowledge and genuine care for each one. I'm honored to have been a small part of his journey.”

Removing financial barriers for students

The cost of college can often be a significant hurdle for students. As a student, Adams was fortunate to receive the Scroggs-Raper Scholarship twice. This scholarship, established through the generous donations of Luther Raper and Claude Scroggs, is awarded to students at Virginia's land grant universities and colleges who are studying topics related to agriculture.

“As an advisor, I am deeply committed to providing hands-on support to students, assisting them in overcoming any obstacles, including financial, that they may face,” Adams said. “My goal is to ensure that they can fully concentrate on their academic pursuits and take advantage of experiential learning opportunities so they succeed.”

This is a priority of the university and why Virginia Tech President Tim Sands and the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors have identified removing financial barriers and expanding resources for students as leading priorities for the future of the university through Virginia Tech Advantage. 

Virginia Tech Advantage is a university-wide, multi-year commitment to offer a broad educational experience to undergraduate students from Virginia who have financial need. The initiative is composed of four strategies: providing a significant amount of new scholarship dollars to reduce unmet financial need and providing increased support for students’ basic needs, career preparation, and transformational learning experiences. 

An impact felt by many

Read what others had to say about Adams.

• “Normand is as true of a Hokie as you’ll ever find. He is a stand-out embodiment of Ut Prosim by serving in the department when and where there’s a need, and he carries bold school spirit by often wearing maroon and orange suits to most events. His commitment to the university has greatly benefited the department and all students who have had the pleasure of getting to know him.” - Gabe Wiggins ’24, environmental economics, management, and policy
• “Normand has always gone the extra mile to ensure his students receive exceptional support. He has constantly made it a point that his door is always open no matter what. From being guided by Normand since my sophomore year to working alongside him now as an ambassador, I've seen firsthand his invaluable contributions to the college. Normand has been pivotal to my success throughout my journey, and I am deeply grateful for his unwavering support and guidance during my undergraduate years.” - Kinley Kellum ’25, agribusiness management
• “Normand is probably the most giving person I have ever met. In every job he pursued from volunteering at the fire rescue to graduate coordinator to undergraduate advisor, his ultimate goal and purpose has been to help people. We all rely on him for much more than his job entails and are blessed to have him on our team.” - Olga Isengildina Massa, John B. and Kristi L. Rowsell professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
• “Homegrown with a broad vision internally and externally, Normand is an ideal role model and mentor for the department, college, and our students. His advice and guidance are always astute, pragmatic, and wise. Organically building student success, Normand is MVP.” - Mike Ellerbrock, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
• “Normand consistently gets back to me quickly on my concerns about career or graduation paths. When I first transitioned into the department, a faculty member mentioned that the AAEC faculty and staff deeply care about their students' success and well-being. Normand is a testament to that.” Teresa Thornton ’25 public health and environmental economics, management, and policy

Adams says he can’t imagine a more exciting or fulfilling role than being an advisor and can’t think of a better place to do it than at Virginia Tech.