Alexa Fraley Gardner

Throughout her 20-year career with Virginia Tech, Alexa Fraley Gardner has used her keen ability to self-reflect as a tool for growth. As she learns from her experiences and puts new knowledge into practice, she inspires others to do the same.

She said, “To me, self-understanding and integrity mean consistently reflecting on everything I have experienced in all facets of my educational, professional, and personal journey, and using that as the foundation for the modeling and mentorship I provide to others.”

She has been affiliated with the Virginia Tech Child Development Center for Learning and Research since 2005. She has served the center in the capacities of undergraduate student, graduate student, and teacher, and she currently serves as the advanced instructor and curriculum coordinator.

“Alexa’s experiences in each of these roles have allowed her to develop a skillset that facilitates successful and intentional learning for the students she teaches,” said her nominator.

Alexa embraces her work with enthusiasm, compassion, and dedication. She oversees the center’s field study placements, teaches a course every semester, and assists with day-to-day operations. Every other semester, she provides service-learning opportunities for approximately 45 students. Still, her nominator said that Alexa spends much of her time “working in the trenches” with her students.

One of the qualities that makes Alexa a powerful educator is her ability to relate to her students with care and authenticity.

Her nominator noted that she regularly integrates personal examples and stories into her course lectures, facilitating an atmosphere of empathy and open dialogue. As her nominator put it, “Many of the students’ challenges and goals were her own challenges and goals.”

Every semester, she works with 25 to 30 undergraduate students to provide guidance on field study experiences. Through collaborative discussions, she helps them identify their goals and align them with their field studies.

Her nominator described her as proactively community minded — a quality she models to students.

“As a result of discussions with students and the community,” said her nominator, “Alexa has advocated for funding to provide enrollment opportunities to underserved children with disabilities, lower socio-economic backgrounds, and family challenges. These opportunities enhance equity and accessibility, and they provide diverse learning experiences for her students.”

Alexa has facilitated opportunities for her students to learn sign language, work with children of varying needs, gain administrative experience, and become more comfortable and confident engaging with children and their families.

“Alexa’s self-understanding and integrity have provided a deeper understanding of what high quality early care and education look like,” said her nominator.

As Alexa continues to build and hone her skillset as a leader, she encourages her students to reflect on their own goals and values to lay the foundation for long, meaningful careers.

For her continued dedication to studying the past to build a stronger future for students of all ages, Student Affairs is proud to present the Faculty/Staff Aspire! Award for SELF-UNDERSTANDING and INTEGRITY to Alexa Fraley Gardner.