Born and raised near Annapolis, Maryland, I have always loved the environment and had a strong passion to protect it. In college, that grew into a special focus on sustainable agriculture, where I wanted to support farmers and the industry in sustainability producing food that would feed our rapidly growing population. As I tried different internships to explore exactly HOW I wanted to help achieve that, I found a love for communications.

In my current role as External Communications Manager at Perdue Farms, I work on corporate storytelling, communicating the work we do in sustainability, animal welfare, and other topics. Prior to Perdue, I served in communications roles at Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Across all these roles, I've worked closely with farmers, non-profits, agribusinesses, brands, government agencies, and universities to share stories about U.S. agriculture and sustainability. That work has taken many forms - from content development and design to media engagement and event planning.

I've learned that there is no shortage of stories showcasing the amazing work being done across U.S. agriculture, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for our industry (and communicate about it!).

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

During my junior year of college, I had the opportunity to represent the University of Maryland (UMD) at the 2017 AFA Leaders Conference. Fun fact - that was the first year that UMD attended!

When I first heard about the opportunity, I had admittedly never heard of AFA before. As I learned more about it and the conference, I became so excited, albeit a bit nervous, about the opportunity - I felt it was going to be a great place for me to grow and it did not disappoint. I remember learning so much at that first conference, and it helped me hone so many 'soft skills', like networking, that I desperately needed practice in. I met so many other students who, just like me, were learning how we fit in the world and had a passion to cultivate.

It was, truly, an experience I'll never forget. And, it was so wonderful that I attended the Policy Institute in 2018 and the Leaders Conference in 2018 (my senior year).

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

I often tell people I wouldn't be where I am today without AFA. It was an interaction at a networking dinner during the Policy Institute that helped me land an internship with the National Association of Conservation Districts. It was that same internship that made me realize I really loved communications and it was that same organization that, as fate would have it, had a job open as I neared graduation. AFA was the spark that ignited my career trajectory and I could not be more grateful.

In what ways do you stay connected or involved with AFA in your professional life? Why is that important to you?

I try to stay as involved as I can be because I want to help students gain the same experience I did. Honing your skills, especially networking, takes practice. Across the three AFA events I attended, I felt myself get more comfortable and confident in that skill, and I want to help students do the same. So, when the Policy Institute in particular is in town, I always try to attend!