Hokie Stones of Wisdom: Lifelong Learning

The CALS Alumni Organization is pleased to present a workshop series for alumni:  Hokie Stones of Wisdom where CALS alumni and friends will host topics throughout the year to provide learning and networking opportunities. 

As Hokie alumni, we can appreciate the educational experiences that we had as undergraduate and/or graduate students. Our education in the classroom was vital, but so were the lessons we learned through extracurricular activities, internships, and travel. We also know that our education didn’t stop on commencement day.

The focus of the September 19 Hokie Stones of Wisdom program will be on lifelong learning. Join us to hear about our panelists’ lifelong learning experiences which may include participation in professional associations, company training, leadership development programs, and Extension programming.

Angela S. Anderson ('13 human nutrition, foods and exercise) is a collegiate associate professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech. She implements new active learning techniques into the classroom such as the practice of weekly group work activities, the use of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURES), and the use of project-based learning assignments embedded within course curriculum. She received the CETL Excellence in Teaching Award in 2020, CALS Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 2022, and CALSAO Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumni Award in 2023.

Dixie Watts Dalton ('86 agricultural and applied economics) is an associate professor of practice in VT’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and serves as coordinator of the agribusiness concentration of the Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences (OMALS) degree, a position she has held since August of 2021. Dixie and her husband, Johnny, own a cow-calf and hay operation in Kenbridge, Virginia, and own Valley Creek Hunting Supply.

Kristy McComb ('02 food science and technology) works at Merck in Elkton, Virginia as an Associate Director of External Quality Assurance overseeing quality attributes and product release of three contract manufacturing sites. She grew up on a dairy farm in Loudoun County and has previously worked for HP Hood, Coca-Cola, and WhiteWave Foods (now Danone).

Andrew Smith ('85 dairy science) currently serves as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Prior to joining DCR he served as the Associate Director of Governmental Relations with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leaders Program as well as the Virginia Agricultural Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) where he was a member of the Inaugural Class.

The panel will be moderated by David Winston ('87 dairy science) CALS Faculty Representative to the CALS Alumni Organization Board of Directors and Extension Dairy Scientist for Youth in the School of Animal Sciences.