Class of 2026: Zoë Wachsman sets her sights on food systems and public health

Name: Zoë Wachsman

College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major/minor: Animal and poultry sciences with a minor in agriculture and applied economics (SECL)

Hometown: Salem, New Hampshire

Plans after graduation: I am continuing my education at Cornell University, where I will be working toward a Master of Public Health with a concentration in food systems and health.

If you could go back to the beginning of your undergraduate degree and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
“Go on, be brave, be curious” When I got to Virginia Tech I did not know anyone. I was full of “what ifs” and overcoming those fears of starting somewhere new were the beginning of everything!

What extracurricular impacted your college experience the most?
The student organization that made the largest impact on me at Virginia Tech was definitely Sigma Alpha Sorority. Sigma Alpha quickly offered me a place to connect with other women in the agricultural community and brought me some of my closest mentors and friends. Sigma Alpha taught me what it takes to be a good leader and to be a team player. I served two consecutive terms on our executive committee first as our Second Vice President and Membership Director and later as the President of our chapter. I owe a lot to my sisters and my exec team.

I also believe being involved in Virginia Tech Dining Services and the Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences Community Council allowed me to make an impact and build connections with students, faculty, and staff all across campus.

Favorite class and why?

My favorite class was definitely International Agricultural Development and Trade with Dr. Anubhab Gupta. The course opened my eyes to how programming and economics are actively helping people around the globe.

Favorite Hokie memory or moment:  Sitting at dinner with President Tim Sands and Dr. Laura Sands with a few other students at The Grove. My favorite part of the experience was connecting with Dr. Sands over her support of our dairy science program here at Virginia Tech and her intrigue in the world of showing dairy cattle after attending Virginia Tech Dairy Club’s Little All American. It was a room full of Hokie spirit. Even though many of us had never met, we were connected through our love for the university.

What internships/summer jobs did you do while at Virginia Tech and how did they impact your college experience and career choice? 
I spent a lot of my college career participating in experiential learning opportunities. In the Spring of 2024 I began working for Virginia Tech Dining Services as their Student Sustainability Administrator Intern supporting the Sustainable Dining Department and Virginia Tech’s 2020 Climate Action Commitment under my mentor, Emily Williams.

The summer of 2024 I was a Forage and Grassland Livestock Research Intern for West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, supporting Jerry Yates, Dr. Matthew Wilson, and Dr. Nathan Blake. I worked on projects at various Research, Education, and Outreach Centers across the state, but primarily at Reymann Memorial Farms.

In the summer of 2025 I was a Research Animal Specialist Intern at Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Comparative Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. I assisted with IACUC protocols and learned about laboratory animal welfare for rodents while supporting research teams at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.

These experiences allowed me to learn a lot about sustainable food systems, health, and rural communities. The overlap of these experiences grew my interest in rural public health.

How have you grown since your first-year at VT?
When I arrived, I thought everyone else had “it” figured out. Now I know that no one does, we are all just chasing our dreams one day at a time.

How did study abroad, undergrad research,  or independent study courses impact you?
Starting in November of 2022 I began working in School of Animal Sciences research under Drs. Mark Hanigan, Tatiane Fernandes, and Maria Helena de Oliveria in the , studying dairy cattle nutrition, working alongside Dr. de Oliveria in both Litton-Reaves and the Metabolic Research Laboratory at Kentland Farm. I also contributed to dairy nutrition physiology research in Dr. Benjamin Corl’s lab in the spring of 2024 as a dairy experimental research assistant supporting graduate students, Anna Cappellina and Holly Parks. In particular, my experience working with Dr. de Oliveria made a large impact on me. She taught me so much about work ethic and laid the foundation for my understanding of research and really falling in love with it.

I participated in an embedded study abroad program led by Drs. Katie Heiderscheit and Cynthia Wood in the British Isles. This experience opened my eyes to what agriculture and cultures look like in different parts of the world. Our study abroad group was largely women and in Ireland, we visited a beef farm and met a young girl named Aoife. Her father said he was amazed to see so many women interested in agriculture. This experience reminded me that having a community of women in agriculture is so important to the continuation of the industry. 

I also spent time as a peer mentor supporting our students in their First Year Experience for two years with Dr. Katie Heiderscheit as professor. I was able to support 14 new students in their transition to college and offer insights and resources to help them build connections on campus. This role was very rewarding because I was able see new students grow and build connections as they joined the Hokie Community!

What role did scholarships play in making your education possible or in enhancing your undergrad experience?
Scholarships played a big role in my undergraduate experience. I received scholarships from the New England Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Julian Burruss Scholarship, Virginia Tech Scholarship, Virginia Tech Nonresident Scholarship, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Scholarship, and the Robert B. and Martha W. Delano Scholarship. Having financial support of the Hokie Community made it possible for me to continue my education and I am thankful to the institutions and individuals who have supported me.

Anything else?
Go Hokies!!!