As the Nonprofit Finance Administrator at the Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP) in Roanoke, Ashley Dugan is building a career rooted in strengthening local communities. Since graduating, she has found her place in the sustainable agriculture sector, bringing with her experience in local news, economic development, and government affairs. A common thread throughout her professional journey has been a commitment to localism and community impact. At LEAP, she supports the organization's mission to create a more resilient regional food system by supporting farmers and expanding access to nutritious, sustainable, and locally sourced food. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to work that makes a difference across the region.

Why did you want to do your master’s online? What attracted you to the degree? https://onlinems.aaec.vt.edu

First and foremost, I was motivated by numerous professional and personal experiences to transition my career into the agricultural sector, and I knew I needed to become more knowledgeable about the industry to do so. Virginia Tech is a global leader in agricultural education, and I've been privileged to call the Blacksburg region home for the past seven years, so the university was my first and really only consideration for where to study.

I considered a few degree programs offered by Virginia Tech to provide a foundation in agriculture and, more specifically, help me understand how on-farm and industry-level decisions/trends intersect with broader sustainability goals. Ultimately, I chose AAEC because of its flexibility as both an online and asynchronous degree program. Throughout the program, I was either working full-time or a stay-at-home parent to my son, and I think most of my peers had equally full plates. The flexibility allowed us to pursue a graduate degree without sacrificing other important priorities. I also appreciated that the AAEC coursework was clearly connected to farmers' realities through its applied framework and the case studies and datasets it leveraged. This gave me a clearer picture of the agricultural field, but also bolstered my confidence that I'd gain transferable skills in data and economic analysis that would help me contribute and succeed in a wide variety of potential jobs.

What was the most valuable part of your program or experience?

Aside from the curriculum itself and all the skills I gained, the most valuable part of the AAEC program for me was the empowerment it provided. While many of my peers had an agricultural, financial, or economic background - either from growing up on farms or previous academic studies - I majored in history and government as an undergrad. Those are valuable fields, and that education continues to inform how I approach my work, but I was intimidated by the transition not only into agriculture, but also the more quantitative work of economic analysis. I had several professors who were incredibly patient, nonjudgmental, and explained new concepts to me with clarity and enthusiasm. They encouraged my belief that I could succeed in the program. They also - particularly through the capstone course - helped me connect my previous policy and communications experience to meaningful analysis in agricultural economics. They taught me how to talk about data. I hope I'll keep in touch with the many friends and mentors I gained in AAEC, and the ability to build this network remotely is a testament to the program as well. 

What advice would you give to future students considering this program?

With an online program, I think it becomes even more true that you get out of the education what you put into it. Learn everything you can from your professors, guest speakers, AND your peers! People in the AAEC program live all over the country (and world!), come from diverse industries, and offer unique perspectives. Read discussion posts! Pick each other's brains during group projects! I know firsthand how demanding school can feel on top of your regular responsibilities, but try to prioritize it and also stick with it! I took semesters off or lightened my courseload to make the pace of the program work for me, and that flexibility allowed me to do my best work and ultimately graduate.