MBB HOKIES 17-18 | MEDIA GUIDE

Q & A WI TH DANNY WHITE SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLET ICS DIRECTOR FOR STUDENT-ATHLETE SERVICES/UNIVERST I TY AFFAIRS Q: How has your role in the athletics department evolved in the past several years? DW: Over the years, I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with our student-athletes in many of the areas that provide direct support – student-athlete development, SAAC [Student-Athlete Advisory Committee], our Leadership Institute, as well as academic support. While my role has certainly evolved, I continue to work in ways that hopefully supports our student-athletes in their current and future goals. Q: What is new on the horizon for Student- Athlete Development? DW: The staff has and continues to do a fantastic job in leadership development, community outreach, career preparation, etc. I believe preparing our student-athletes for their lives post- graduation is imperative, and the “horizon” certainly includes new, innovative ways to do so within our department and in connection with the university, community, and Hokie Nation. Q: How important is it for student-athletes to be involved in the community, both on campus and regionally? DW: It’s extremely important both for the community and the growth of the student-athlete. A community thrives on all components being connected, and our student-athletes have an opportunity to deepen those connections when they engage with local schools, organizations, etc. It also gives our student-athletes an opportunity to “see” and experience all that makes Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, and the surrounding area special. Community outreach affords our student-athletes a chance to step outside of their normal routine and be a part of what makes this place special. Q: How has the growth of your department increased the availability of good deeds of which you are able to involve the student- athletes? DW: Specifically, many support areas have been drawn to and interested in all that we do through our Leadership Institute. The institute is meant to provide a framework for leadership development in which our student-athletes can engage. And, certainly, as the institute expands, the opportunities to involve student-athletes in good deeds expands. However, the foundation of high-caliber student- athletes, supportive and involved coaches, and Whit Babcock’s leadership has allowed us to build upon momentum and think innovatively about the future. Q: Ty Outlaw was on the Rwanda trip during the summer of 2017. How important are experiences like that trip to the total development of our student-athletes during their years at Virginia Tech? DW: These opportunities are once-in-a-lifetime, and hopefully, life altering. We have such a great motto at Virginia Tech, “That I May Serve,” which allows our students the opportunity to connect real-life experiences with their studies and college lives. My hope is that student-athletes are provided a short opportunity to be challenged in how they view and see the world — and ultimately how they may contribute to the greater good of society for years to come. Our current society/world is so interconnected, often termed a “global society.” However, it’s truly hard to engage globally if our understanding of the world is limited to one, or a few, locations. To develop holistically, it’s imperative that students have global experiences. @VT_MBBall @vthokiembb VTMBBALL 98