"Tell your story—even the unflattering parts”

For Ennis McCrery, self-understanding and integrity are as much about her own story as helping others tell theirs.

“The students are what make every day matter,” Ennis said. “Walking alongside them as they discover who they are and what they have to contribute to the world is an incredible privilege. They push me to examine and re-examine my own values and what it means to give to others and to a community.”

Her nominator wrote, “Part of what makes Ennis special is her humble self-awareness about what she can uniquely contribute, drawing from her own story, aligning head, heart, and intuition in a way that serves a higher purpose and embraces mystery.

“She is transparent that this process is iterative and messy -- and that it is sometimes painful. She journeys with students who are confronting significant disorienting dilemmas -- instances where they realize that they did not live up to personal or community values. No matter the situation, Ennis helps them see the transformative power of their situation and how it might shape who they become.”

Ennis grew up in Blacksburg, and she and her husband and family returned to the town in 2000. After a long hiatus and a lot of life experience, she applied to Virginia Tech as an undergraduate transfer student at the age of 29, finished her bachelor’s degree in English, and then completed a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

While earning her degrees, she worked as communications manager for the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and as a graduate teaching assistant. She was also Graduate Student Representative to the Board of Visitors. She was named Graduate Student Ombudsperson—a role she served in for eight years before transitioning to Student Affairs. She became a Title IX Investigator and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Specialist, and is now Director of Student Conduct.

As a member of the About Campus editorial team, Ennis reaffirmed her belief in the impact of communication. “Reading and writing always help me reconnect with who I am,” she said. “I also value family and friends who ask challenging questions and, more than anything, times when we laugh together until we cry. I particularly value openness, kindness, fairness, and generosity.

These values have become more salient for me as I’ve gotten older and recognized that we create meaning through relationships and community—rather than through individual achievement.”

Her nominator said, “Ennis is a heartfelt communicator whose wisdom is gained by a life well-lived, embedded in personal values, and tested in challenging personal experiences. It has been invaluable to witness her deep reflection, trust in the unknown, and self-acceptance as she continues to examine, write, and revise her story.”

Ennis encourages others by saying, “Tell your story—even the unflattering parts. Someone needs to hear it, and through the process of sharing, you will both uncover new lessons to be learned.”