Raised in the small rural town of Tazewell in southwest Virginia, Macie Alford, a junior history major at Virginia Tech, never thought college would be a reality. It was during the summer before her senior year of high school that Macie had the realization college might be attainable after all. She attended the Black College Institute at Virginia Tech that summer, and something clicked. The program showed her that attending Virginia Tech was a real possibility and solidified her decision to apply. 

Taking the leap

Macie, a first-generation college student, applied only to Virginia Tech with a newfound confidence that if it were meant to be, it would work out. When she learned she’d been accepted, she was in awe. Reflecting, Macie says, “I grew up coming here to watch softball games, but being a student here is out of this world.” 

This past summer, Macie was a student staff leader for the Black College Institute and describes it as “a full circle moment.”

Macie acknowledges how fortunate she’s been to have family, friends, and mentors in her corner along the way. "I got lucky having a good support system. Without that, I wouldn't be who I am or where I am," she says. 

A strong foundation of support

Throughout her time at Virginia Tech, Macie has been fortunate to find mentors like Jennifer Hart, a professor in the Department of History, and Amy Azano, director of the Center for Rural Education, who have both become pillars of support. Macie credits these connections for helping her navigate higher education, especially when she considered changing her major or questioned whether she belonged at such a large institution.

Macie, who wants to be a high school history teacher, began having doubts during her first year about whether she should change her major. An important conversation with Hart helped her realize she could still teach with a history degree, but that it would also open additional doors beyond teaching. Macie describes it as "an eye opening moment.” She made the decision to stay a history major and hasn’t looked back. 

Macie describes her encounters with Hart, Azano, and others as “falling into place” when she most needed them. She’s had the opportunity to “build a family” within a large institution and hopes that other students can have the same experience. When asked how others can find their place on campus, she explains, “College is a time of trying – try a little of everything to find the right support system.” 

Making her mark 

Macie’s experiences inspired her to advocate for rural students across campus and beyond. She regularly visits her hometown to encourage high school students by sharing her story in the hopes they’ll go to college, too. Positive influences from throughout her life empower Macie to return the favor by showing high schoolers that success at a large institution like Virginia Tech is within reach. While she acknowledges that every student has a different story, she emphasizes, "I’m five feet tall from a small town, and I took the shot – you can do it, too." 

Her commitment to rural education is also reflected in her leadership as a student liaison for the Center for Rural Education. Macie connected with the center early on in her campus journey; it became an essential part of her support system, and she’s hoping it can do the same for others. In her role, she works to create safe spaces and a sense of belonging for rural students to help them foster connections and community with one another. 

As an intern with Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia (MAAV), Macie is working with the Raising the Shade project to build a living monument honoring seventy U.S. troops of color from the Civil War who were born in nearby Franklin County. This project connects Macie’s passion for history with her desire to give back to her community by preserving and telling the full stories of marginalized groups.

Macie has spent countless hours researching the lives of these soldiers — tracing their family histories, determining whether they were enslaved before the war, and uncovering their post-war lives. She discovered that one such soldier has an unclaimed Medal of Honor, so she’s been tracing his ancestry to see if she can find any living family members to receive it on his behalf. Macie enjoys “giving voices to those who don’t have them anymore so that they’re not lost in the cracks of history.”

Macie’s passion for rural student advocacy extends to national platforms as well. Earlier this year during Black History Month, she was the moderator for a panel on Black rural education where she facilitated a conversation with prominent scholars from universities across the country. 

Additionally, she had the opportunity to speak on a panel at the American Association of Colleges and Universities General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment conference about the unique challenges rural students face and emphasized the importance of finding support systems in college. 

The conference, held in Rhode Island earlier this year, marked the first time Macie had flown on an airplane. She attended the conference with Hart at her side. “It scared the daylights out of me being on an airplane, but I’m so thankful that Dr. Hart gave me the opportunity to go,” shares Macie. She felt a responsibility to represent Hart, the rest of her support system, and Virginia Tech well while at the conference, so she was sure to dress for success in a pink pantsuit. Hart smiles and says, “She doesn’t even understand how extraordinary she is because she’s just being herself.” 

Paying it forward 

For Macie, being a rural student at Virginia Tech means breaking barriers and creating opportunities for others. “When I graduate, it’s not just a win for me and my family — my community raised me, so my degree is for my community and the people in my family who couldn’t go to college. Once we get one win, we can continue to win,” she explains. She’s determined to show others that even when the road seems difficult, success is possible with the right support system. 

As she looks toward the future, Macie hopes to teach high school history and continue helping young people find their place in the world. With her passion for mentorship and community, she is determined to ensure that success is within reach for all the students who follow in her footsteps. "I’ve had so many cheerleaders in my life – I want to pay it forward.”

written by Cammie Sgarrella