Jane Robertson Evia of the Department of Statistics received a national award in February for her work with first-year students and her focus on their well-being. 

“What really stands out is Robertson Evia’s ability to merge teaching a STEM class and a holistic approach to her students,” said Kendria Mason, coordinator for First-Year Experiences. “The consideration for her students’ emotional and personal development isn’t just one lecture or exercise, but weaved into the entire course, which is part of the mission of our program.” 

The award, Excellence in Teaching First-Year Seminars, was given by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition in partnership with Penguin Random House Publishing at their annual conference in New Orleans. Robertson Evia, collegiate associate professor in the College of Science, has taught STAT 1004: First Year Experience in Learning from Data, since the fall semester of 2013.

First-Year Experiences is a universitywide program with courses taught in every college that support the academic transition for students arriving at Virginia Tech. The classes, taught in students' home colleges, introduce students to their majors, the university’s honor code, professional development opportunities, and campus resources for their academic success. This semester, more than 11,500 students are enrolled in the program. 

Robertson Evia is the third Virginia Tech faculty member to receive the award, which recognizes just one person each year. She has also published extensively on STEM pedagogy, and this award recognizes her as a national leader in her field, said Mason.

To support the health and success of her students, Robertson Evia teams up with campus partners, including the Cook Counseling Center and Hokie Wellness. Laurie Fritsch, assistant director of Hokie Wellness, visits twice each semester to talk about healthy and productive technology use, called digital well-being. Additionally, the Peer Assistance for Learning program gives a presentation on the transition to college life, mental well-being, and the services available at the Cook Counseling Center. 

“My students learn about meditation, sleep, nutrition, exercise. They learn about things that can really impact their mental health,” said Robertson Evia. “I think that that first year is a really important time to bring this material in because it serves them through their whole time in college and even beyond.

“With my seniors, I've known them for four years and it's just really nice to see that growth from a first-year student,” she said.  

Robertson Evia believes that the core values of a classroom revolve around community. She encourages students to engage with her and their peers before, during, and after class and finds that students who do so often find more success professionally. 

“The first thing I tell my students is to get to know me and get to know your other professors,” she said. “We want to get to know you, and I also find that students tend to have higher academic achievement too if they engage with me and with their peers.”

Every class Roberton Evia teaches, regardless of its modality, includes a reminder of her office hours and her commitment to building community. She said this award is a reminder that students and staff alike benefit from a humanistic perspective of care in the classroom. 

“Everyone should be looking out for their students and not just through an academic lens,” said Roberston Evia. “They’re human beings. They all have different backgrounds, life stories, and experiences.” 

Robertson Evia received her award at the 44th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience on Feb. 18.

Written by Bethany Lenhardt, editorial intern at the Office of Undergraduate Education

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