Summary
Robert Jacks is a student-success-focused higher education leader with 15 years of experience designing advising programs, orientation, and professional development at Virginia Tech. As Director of Academic Advising for a college of 1,600+ undergraduates, he blends data-driven intervention strategies with instructional design expertise to improve retention, recruitment, and transitional advising. He builds and implements technology-enhanced resources and training for advisors and faculty, teaches first-year experience and career development modules, and coordinates college-wide orientation operations. A former department-level advising coordinator and student development manager, he brings a rare combination of curriculum design, event and volunteer management, and HR/fundraising experience to student services. Based in Blacksburg, VA, he leverages his MAEd in Instructional Design to translate institutional goals into scalable advising systems that measurably support student success.
15 years of coding experience
Virginia Tech
English