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Education

Experience

  • 2023 - Present
    Michigan State University College of Natural Science logo Michigan State University College of Natural Science

    Associate Dean and Director for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

  • 2023 - Present
    Michigan State University College of Natural Science logo Michigan State University College of Natural Science

    Associate Professor Commumity Sustainability

  • 2022 - 2023
    University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment logo University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

    Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • 2019 - 2023
    University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment logo University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

    Assistant Dean for Diversity

  • 2015 - 2023
    University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

    Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences Advisor

    MANRRS is a national society that welcomes membership of people of all racial and ethnic group participation in agricultural and related science careers. MANRRS members are encouraged to be full participants in other professional societies for their basic disciplinary and career interests. However, MANRRS attempts to provide networks to support professional development of minorities.

    It is a springboard for their entry into and advancement in careers where they otherwise could be lost in the sheer number and established connections of mainstream participants. For student members, MANRRS provides role models and networking opportunities. MANRRS also offers students opportunities to enhance leadership and organizational and public speaking skills, and to experience professional critique of scholarly worked in a “user friendly” environment.

    An annual membership directory is planned to provide student members national exposure in career and graduate study markets. MANRRS professional members are often the only, or one of few, minority participants in their basic disciplinary societies or at their career locations. MANRRS provides them a network of counterparts from similar backgrounds with related interests and goals. More experienced members serve as mentors for newer graduates. The historical roots of traditionally formed networks within professions will prevent their replacement by MANRRS or any other alliance. However, MANRRS provides its members a similar inner circle of relationships to circumvent some of the exclusionary impacts of established professional lines of communication.

    Finally, MANRRS also serves employers in the broader agricultural sector. It provides them a platform to identify prospective well-qualified employees who are members of ethnic groups, which, when combined, are projected to be the new majority in the work force in the not too distant future.

  • 2019 - 2023
    National MANRRS

    National MANRRS President

    •Serve as “chief adviser to the MANRRS National President, work with student members, chapter advisors and the student officer leadership team to further the organization’s mission of student advancement
    •Influential in how the student officer team utilizes its time, the selection and appointment of Student Officer board members and its future leadership. Responsible for coordinating all student competitions, appointing contest superintendents, and maintaining guidelines for student competitions
    •Perform any activities, duties, and responsibilities as designated by the National Professional President and acts as one of the primary spokesperson to student members
    •Present in national outlets on behalf of the organization and advocated for the National Society of MANRRS
    •Appoint special student committee chairs and served as ex officio on all committees
    •Provide leadership in student officer’s performance evaluations and played a crucial role in new officer orientation and create chapter development topics
    •Work with the MANRRS National President, COO and student officers to ensure committee resolutions are carried out. Developed relationships with MANRRS chapter advisors and strategic partners
    •Attend and assist in organizing chapter social functions and maintaining visibility in the community and/or on local campuses

  • 2019 - 2019
    National MANRRS

    National MANRRS President Elect

    •Serve as “chief adviser to the MANRRS National President, work with student members, chapter advisors and the student officer leadership team to further the organization’s mission of student advancement
    •Influential in how the student officer team utilizes its time, the selection and appointment of Student Officer board members and its future leadership. Responsible for coordinating all student competitions, appointing contest superintendents, and maintaining guidelines for student competitions
    •Perform any activities, duties, and responsibilities as designated by the National Professional President and acts as one of the primary spokesperson to student members
    •Present in national outlets on behalf of the organization and advocated for the National Society of MANRRS
    •Appoint special student committee chairs and served as ex officio on all committees
    •Provide leadership in student officer’s performance evaluations and played a crucial role in new officer orientation and create chapter development topics
    •Work with the MANRRS National President, COO and student officers to ensure committee resolutions are carried out. Developed relationships with MANRRS chapter advisors and strategic partners
    •Attend and assist in organizing chapter social functions and maintaining visibility in the community and/or on local campuses

  • 2015 - 2019
    Univeristy of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

    Human Resources Specialist

    The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service is the most comprehensive outreach and engagement program of the University. Our mission, simply stated, is to make a difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens with research-based education. We offer programs to the people in their local communities, addressing issues of importance to all Kentuckians. We reach millions of Kentucky residents each year with educational programs in Agriculture & Natural Resources, Family & Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development, and Community & Economic Development.

    As a Human Resource Specialist, I work with the Cooperative Extension Service Administrative team in order to enhance the work morale of all extension employees. I am the overseer of the mentorship program, county program review to ensure that all 120 counties are in compliance, new agent orientation, and the CES internship program. We have the largest Extension Internship Programs in the country.

  • 2018 - 2019
    University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

    Interim Director of Diversity

    •Provide leadership in strengthening workplace diversity, recruiting and retaining a diverse student body, building cultural competency, monitoring assessment, and reporting of activities relative to diversity and inclusion for CAFE
    • Chairing the CAFE Diversity Advisory Committee and facilitating their activities and success
    •Leading efforts to make continuous progress in employment of women and minorities at all levels of the college, providing support for academic departments in recruiting diverse applicant pools, collaborating with the Office of Cooperative Extension Personnel in the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of Extension interns, agents and administrators, leading efforts in retention of Cooperative Extension Employees statewide including directing the Extension Diversity Network
    •Collaborate and develop strategies with the Director of Student Success in the Colleges Student Success Office events, leading retention activities focusing on academic and professional success including an interdepartmental team to support students’ academic pursuits, directing an array of programs and services to support the curricular and extracurricular success of the diverse student community
    •Serving as a liaison with departments in the College and across campus to support student retention, diversification and inclusion activities ,collaborating with other organizations serving minority youth
    •Coordinate and deliver on-going diversity training for faculty, agents and staff
    •Provide leadership to awards that encourage diversity efforts such as the Extension Diversity Awards
    •Provide assistance to college sponsored conferences/workshops to incorporate diversity topics, collaborating with campus wide groups/programs that foster cultural competency, preparing and distributing a College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Annual Progress Report on Diversity, including analysis of metrics, statistics, historical trends and recent developments and initiatives

  • 2011 - 2015
    University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Services

    4H Youth Development Agent

    The mission of Christian County 4-H is to be an instrument for community growth, specializing in innovative educational programs to increase diversified educational opportunities for all Christian County youth and adults. Implements programs in order to enhance the life skills and well being of youth in our community.

    Junior Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences Advisor in Christian County, KY

    MANRRS is a national society that welcomes membership of people of all racial and ethnic group participation in agricultural and related sciences careers. MANRRS members are encouraged to be full participants in other professional societies for their basic disciplinary and career interests. However, MANRRS attempts to provide networks to support professional development of minorities. It is a springboard for their entry into and advancement in careers where they otherwise could be lost in the sheer number and established connections of mainstream participants. For student members, MANRRS provides role models and networking opportunities. MANRRS also offers students opportunities to enhance leadership and organizational and public speaking skills, and to experience professional critique of scholarly worked in a “user friendly” environment.

  • 2011 - 2015
    University of Kentucky

    4-H Jr. MANRRS Chapter Advisor

    • Expose underrepresented youth to the agriculture industry
    • Assist youth in personal, professional, and leadership development
    • Encourage scholarly achievement
    • Encourage continued education
    • Grant writing

  • 2007 - 2011
    University of Kentucky

    Student Worker

    Assistant to the Chair of the Agricultural Economics Department
    Duties included: proctoring exams, answering phones, transcribing data, assembling surveys, and filing papers

  • 2006 - 2011
    University of Kentucky

    Agricultural Economics Student

  • 2006 - 2011
    University of Kentucky

    Student Recruitment

    Recruit High School Students for the College of Agriculture
    Construct proposals, marketing and media collateral

  • 2007 - 2007
    University of Kentucky

    Equine Initiative Surveyor

    Assisted with surveying horseback riders in order to improve equine trails

  • 2010 - 2010
    Monsato

    Field Sales Intern

    •Worked in Field Sales
    •Marketed and Sold biotechnology products statewide
    •Compiled market data and territory analysis to increase sales
    •Oversaw the use and documentation of products in test plots

  • 2009 - 2009
    University of Kentucky Shelby County Cooperative Extension Services

    Cooperative Extension Services

    Assisted the 4-H/ Youth Development Agent with various programs
    Published a money management publication as a guide for College Students

Skills