College and Major: Auburn University College of Agriculture, Agricultural Business and Economics

Hometown: Dothan, Alabama

Career Goals: I want to go to graduate school here at Auburn University and earn my master’s degree in rural sociology or agricultural economics. After that, I hope to work for Alabama Extension in one of the counties near my hometown. No matter what career I end up in, I hope to use my future degrees to be a resource for my local farmers and aid them in any way I can.

Hobby or Fun Fact: I am the only granddaughter, daughter, niece, and girl cousin on both my mom’s and dad’s side.

Thoughts from Audrey

Preinternship

Through this internship, I hope to gain hands-on experience with research and learn about Alabama Extension. Professionally, I want to decide if Alabama Extension is a career I want to pursue. Given that my mentor is an assistant Extension professor in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department at Auburn University, I hope to decide if a master’s degree in rural sociology is a good fit for me. In July, I will be given the opportunity to showcase research I have done and helped out with through the Alabama Farm Poll. Through this opportunity, I hope to improve my communication skills as well as my basic people skills. Additionally, I want to make friends with coworkers and build relationships with the people around me. Alabama Extension interests me because of all the research that is done and the educational opportunities they provide to everyone in Alabama and across the United States.

Postinternship

Throughout this internship, I have refined my communication, networking, and research skills. I have learned that an Master of Science degree in rural sociology is not a topic I am interested in. Instead, I will be aiming to pursue a masters degree in agriscience education, leadership, and communication. The professional development days have allowed me to make friends with some of the other interns this summer. This summer, I have met people and built connections that I can carry with me through my future career. I have learned to push myself and grow even if it’s uncomfortable at first. If you want to intern with Alabama Extension, I highly recommend it. Find their areas of expertise and figure out which topic you want to learn more about.