Through CAENS, I’ve been able to shadow a dietician at another prominent university, participate in summer internships, and develop meaningful mentor relationships with faculty. And I’m excited about even more opportunities in the pipeline, like potentially helping with a community food garden and studying abroad.

I’ve had opportunities to get hands-on experience in the ag industry through internships. I’ve learned that the world does not revolve unless agriculture is involved. Without ag, there is no us: no food, no water, no life capacity. Last summer, I was able to intern in Washington, DC and see firsthand the work that is happening on Capitol Hill. I worked to research and implement programs to help farmers get the necessary information and programs that we all need to live.

Throughout my time in CAENS, I’ve had so many opportunities, which got me an internship where I worked on a soil enzyme collaboration experiment with the USDA and my work was featured in their newsletter!

I have to take a moment to thank Dean Bolden-Tiller. She works so hard to provide everyone in our college with opportunities. She blows up our emails with internships, co-ops, job openings, research opportunities, conferences, scholarships, and more.

I was the only black male in my internship program one summer, and my dad told me, ‘Don’t let anyone limit you. Let your work ethic show. Put the work in and dominate.’ I showed up early. I worked late. I was a sponge, soaking up everything that I could. And I was able to offer a viable solution at the end of my internship. Because of this and so many other opportunities I’ve been given at CAENS, I have graduate schools seeking me out.