By Tayler Butters

Academic advisor Jazzy Coles is a Virginia native who, after working as an advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, recently came to computer science. She is a Boston University graduate who studied sociocultural anthropology.

Coles said she is passionate about working with first-generation students and being able to establish one-on-one relationships with them. In her free time, she loves to read, write, play "The Sims," and is a budding gardener. 

Recently, she spoke with us about her path to becoming an advisor, her college experience, and her advice for students. 

What was college like for you?

JC: College for me was very exciting! I was a first-generation student, so I didn’t know what to look for in a university. I just knew I wanted to go far away from home, which I did. I took college as an opportunity to meet new people, find out more about myself and my goals, and learn both in and outside of the classroom. It was definitely a shock being a first-generation student and going so far away from my family, but it caused me to grow into someone I’m super proud of. I wouldn’t change my college experience for anything (except meeting with my academic advisor more).

Tell me about your path to becoming an academic advisor. What drew you to the career, and why is it important?

JC: In undergrad, I only met with an advisor twice. I was a first-generation student, and I didn’t really understand the value of meeting with an advisor or building that relationship. The first time I met with an advisor was in my first semester. I enrolled in a first-year experience class to meet new people and get to know the university and learn more about college life overall. The instructor of that class was an advisor, and one of our assignments was to meet with her. The second time I met with an advisor was nearly three years later. I was having a junior year panic about what I would do after college, I should go to grad school, and how to even start researching grad programs. The only administrator I knew and felt like I could reach out to was the advisor who was the instructor of that first-year experience class.

She welcomed me like it hadn’t been years since I’d last talked to her, and I left that meeting feeling so at ease and with a list of next steps to help me figure out what I wanted to do. But over the next couple of months, I realized I wanted to do what she did for me, but for other students! So, I started looking into academic advising and grad programs for higher education administration. It’s so important to build a relationship with your advisor in college so that you can avoid that junior-year panic and explore your interests and goals early on. I could have avoided so much stress if I’d met with her regularly, or when I first started to struggle.

What brought you to Virginia Tech?

JC: I’m a native Virginian and after college, I decided I didn’t want to permanently move too far away from my family. When I was finishing up grad school last year, I attended the National Academic Advising Association regional conference and learned about a few advising positions here at Tech. As I started to research the university and talk with some friends who had attended Tech, it started to sound like a great fit for me, so I applied!

What is something you would like students to know?

JC: So much of advising is preventative! It’s easier to avoid fires than to put them out, so please feel free to reach out even if there isn’t an emergency.

What advice do you have for students who may be struggling in computer science or don’t know if the program is right for them?

JC: Take advantage of all of the resources available to help students who are struggling academically. They’re all designed specifically to help you, and you’re making the most of your academic experience when you use them. If you’re not sure about CS, that’s fine! Start thinking about why you initially chose CS, and what career you hope this prepares you for. I also recommend talking with friends or peers in the major about their journey to deciding on their major, because chances are they’ve questioned their major choice too.

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