Ainsley Cragin

Ainsley Cragin uses her gifts of care and community to model civility for all students.

As a Student Fellow in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, one of Ainsley's roles is to serve as the initial point of contact for all visitors and telephone inquiries to the office.

Students often call the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs frustrated and unsure who to contact for a specific problem. In a large institution, that can be difficult to navigate. By taking the time to learn the institutional culture and organizational structure, and by carefully listening to callers' concerns, Ainsley helps de-escalate situations and connect students to resources and supports in Student Affairs and across the institution.

“In her role, Ainsley demonstrates courtesy, respect, and consideration, even when not given to her,” said her nominator.

“When someone from another institution called our office frustrated and with a complaint about a process outside our control, Ainsley remained calm, answered the questions she could, and took a detailed message so I could return a call and address the person's concerns. Ainsley deftly handles inquiries like this from community members, parents, and students every week.”

In classes, work on campus, and in student leadership, her nominator said Ainsley “has put others’ needs ahead of her own to ensure that every Hokie has sense of belonging and safe space to share their thoughts and values in a respectful manner.”

While Vice President for Issues and Policy for the Undergraduate Student Senate, Ainsley was a champion for shaping student policy in a way that encouraged underrepresented students. She revised the senate bylaws to focus on ensuring all students had a voice and could use the senate as their platform for equity among the undergraduate student body.

While representing Virginia Tech and its 30,000 undergraduates at the Virginia State Council of Higher Education, Ainsley elevated the educational importance of students engaging in healthy conflict to exchange feedback as a path to growth.

Ainsley said, “Over my three years in the Undergraduate Student Senate, I met with hundreds of students and countless university employees, and I learned that my place is to serve as a bridge between two groups of people that want nothing but the best for Hokies.”

A senior majoring in multimedia journalism and minoring in international relations in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Ainsley plans to use journalism to create opportunities for people to expand their communities by learning more about the world around them.

Ainsley said she seeks “to participate in building spaces, systems, and opportunities for people to want to come together to share their hopes, opinions, and experiences.” She said, “I find beauty and strength in those moments when people choose to really invest in building understanding with others.”

Ainsley said that she learned from her mother the discipline “to see disagreements as people against the problem, not people against people.”

For respecting differences, celebrating honesty, and creating safe communities among diverse thoughts and experiences, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire Award for Practice CIVILITY to Ainsley Cragin.