Brandy Smiley Peterson grew up in South Hill, Virginia and graduated from Park View High School.  She earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences in Science from Southside Virginia Community College, where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

After graduating from SVCC, Brandy transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University to complete a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.  She continued her education by earning a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University.  Brandy completed her residency hours, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor and is trained to supervise other counseling residents   She is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Certified Life Coach.

Brandy is employed by New Directions Community Outreach Services in Chase City, Virginia as Clinical Director, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Outpatient Therapist. She describes herself as a "career student," striving to learn all she can about topics related to her field.  She has a goal to open a private counseling practice in the future.

Brandy advises, " For SVCC students and potential students, SVCC offers many opportunities and should be strongly considered when beginning your educational career. The professors and course offerings allow you to explore while being encouraged to develop your own path to reach your goals. I was able to adapt to the environment at a four-year university and be a better student due to the education and experiences I had while at SVCC. Regardless of the goal that you have set for yourself or if you are in search of your passion, SVCC is a great start for anyone's journey."