Daniel Newcomb, academic and career advisor in the Department of Engineering Education, has been awarded the Outstanding Advising Award in the Primary Advising category as part of the 2021 NACADA Global Awards Program.

“Being an academic advisor is the fulfillment of a life passion which began more than a decade ago when I was a first-generation Appalachian student trying to find my way at Virginia Tech. My academic advisor during those years provided me the guidance and support I needed to be successful,” said Newcomb. “Having an advising career in which I can serve my own students in similar ways through building caring advising relationships, helping them develop, and facilitating their success is deeply rewarding.”

NACADA’s Outstanding Advising Award is presented to an academic advisor who has demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students. The Primary Advising category includes individuals whose primary role at the institution is the direct delivery of advising services to students.

Newcomb is a “triple Hokie,” having earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Tech in 2013 and two master’s degrees from Virginia Tech in 2017 from the School of Education and Department of History. He joined the Department of Engineering Education as an academic and career advisor in 2017.

Newcomb has teaching experience in secondary schools and in undergraduate classrooms. He has used that experience to create advising programming to support the development of college success skills among engineering students and works collaboratively within the Engineering Education Advising Team to support all new general engineering students. Newcomb is a first-generation college student and is passionate about helping his students develop and succeed.

“Receiving the NACADA Outstanding Advising Award in Primary Advising based upon the recommendations of my students and advising colleagues is an honor and it encourages me to continue serving my students to the best of my ability for many years to come,” said Newcomb.

The award will be presented during a ceremony at the NACADA Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio this October.

Written by Chenaye Blankenship