HEATHER MARTIN
Fancy Gap,VA
Summary
Emerging student affairs professional dedicated to fostering inclusive campus environments and supporting first-generation students. Experience in program coordination, mentorship, and community engagement through initiatives that enhance student success and access to educational resources.
Overview
1
1
Certification
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Assistant, Dean of Students’ Office
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
05.2025 - Current
- Supports a university first-generation student success initiative through the Center for First-Generation Student Success by helping with outreach and mentorship for 6,000+ first-generation students, building belonging, academic progress, and retention.
- Partners with faculty and staff to advance GenerationOne and Aurora Interfaith Living Learning Communities through programming, mentorship, and resource coordination that supports student engagement and whole-student development.
- Guided 7 undergraduate first-generation peer mentors, 1 undergraduate teaching assistant, and 2 interfaith initiative interns through regular meetings and assignment oversight.
- Facilitated student success outreach and engagement initiatives for various programs.
- Contributed to public land-grant research 1 doctoral-granting institution serving 38,000 students, focusing on education around ut prosim (that I may serve).
NODA Intern
California State Monterey Bay University
Marina, California
05.2026 - 08.2026
- Led training sessions, equipping staff with essential skills for successful orientation.
- Coordinated orientation events, streamlining logistics for enhanced participant experience.
- Directed orientation leaders, ensuring effective guidance and support.
- Collected qualitative and quantitative data to support program review.
- Prepared annual orientation report for leadership review.
- Supported operations at a four-year university serving 8,000 students in the CSU System.
Practicum Student, New Students and Family Programs
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Blacksburg, Virginia
01.2026 - 05.2026
- Coordinated orientation leader training sessions, that enhanced preparation activities for new leaders.
- Planned teaching activities and graded assignments for leadership course, aligning curriculum with orientation leader training goals.
- Public land-grant research university and doctoral-granting institution serving 38,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, guided by Ut Prosim values.
Camp Counselor, Center for Rural Education
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
06.2024 - 06.2025
- Facilitated one-week residential summer enrichment program for 50 rural middle school students in hands-on humanities and STEM courses, promoting rural cultural wealth and community engagement.
- Supervised daily activities, including academic sessions and evening programs, ensuring a safe environment that fostered academic curiosity, social development, and a sense of belonging.
- Promoted education and community service at a public land-grant, Research 1 institution catering to 38,000 students.
Teacher Cadet
CARROLL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
01.2022 - 05.2022
- Supported the teaching of a seventh-grade Civics and Economics course through student assistance, lesson planning, and grading.
- Public PK-12 district in southwestern Virginia serving over 3,000 students; dedicated to academic excellence and supporting rural learners through community engagement and student success initiatives.
Education
Master of Arts (Exp. 2027) - Higher Education; Student Affairs
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Blacksburg, VA09-2026
Bachelor of Arts - English Language Arts Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Blacksburg, VAAssociates of Arts & Science - General Studies
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville, VASkills
- Program coordination
- Curriculum development
- Data analysis
- Program evaluation
- Student engagement
- Student mentorship
- Relationship building
Certification
Virginia Department of Education. (2024, October 30). Certification of completion: Cultural competency training [Certification]. Virginia Department of Education, Online. https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/teaching-in-virginia/teacher-licensure/cultural-competency-training, Heart Saver Institute (HSI). (2024, October 30). Adult first aid: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) automated external defibrillator (AED) adult [Certification]. HSI, Online. https://hsi.com/solutions/cpr-aed-first-aid-training/remote-skills-verification, Virginia Department of Education. (2024, August 20). English language arts (5038) [Certification]. Praxis, Wytheville, VA, United States., Old Dominion University. (2024, April 29). Regulations governing the use of restraint and seclusion in elementary and secondary schools in Virginia modules [Certification]. Center for Implementation and Evaluation of Education Systems, Online. https://cieesodu.org/initiatives/restraint-and-seclusion/
Affiliations
- ASSOCIATIONS
- 2026 to Present NODA: The Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education
- 2025 to Present National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA)
Timeline
NODA Intern
California State Monterey Bay University
05.2026 - 08.2026
Practicum Student, New Students and Family Programs
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
01.2026 - 05.2026
Graduate Assistant, Dean of Students’ Office
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
05.2025 - Current
Camp Counselor, Center for Rural Education
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
06.2024 - 06.2025
Teacher Cadet
CARROLL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
01.2022 - 05.2022
Master of Arts (Exp. 2027) - Higher Education; Student Affairs
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Bachelor of Arts - English Language Arts Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Associates of Arts & Science - General Studies
Wytheville Community College