Major: Horticulture

Hometown: Chancellor, Alabama

Career Goals: I would like to work in agriculture, either with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System or Auburn University

Hobby or Fun Fact: I enjoy fruit and vegetable gardening.

Thoughts from Chuck

During this internship, I hope to gain an in-depth understanding of how the Alabama Cooperative Extension System operates. Professionally, I want to learn how Extension professionals design, implement, and evaluate community-focused programs, and I am especially eager to contribute meaningfully to the continued success of the Operation Grow program. Personally, I hope this experience helps me grow in confidence, adaptability, and communication as I work alongside experienced professionals and the diverse audiences Extension serves. Ultimately, I want to leave this internship with a clearer vision of how I can use my background to serve others through Extension work.

What draws me most to Alabama Extension is its commitment to serving the people of Alabama. Extension is unique in that it takes the research and expertise of Alabama’s land-grant institutions and puts it directly into the hands of local communities who need it most. I am inspired by the idea of being part of an organization whose primary measure of success is the positive impact it has on real people’s lives. That mission-driven, people-first approach is exactly the kind of work I want to be part of.

This summer, I want to focus on building my professional network by meeting and learning from people across Extension, partner organizations, and the broader community. My central goal is to contribute meaningfully to Operation Grow and its mission of supporting veterans through agriculture. I want to learn how the program engages its participants, identify ways that I can add value, and help advance a mission that gives back to those who have given so much to our country.