College and Major: Auburn University College of Agriculture, Environmental Science

Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

Career Goals: I would like to work as a sustainability analyst, helping organizations become more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally conscious.

Hobby or Fun Fact: I love arts and crafts! My favorite mediums are watercolor painting, collage, and graphite sketching.

Thoughts from Emily

Preinternship

I am so excited to begin my summer internship with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System! As an environmental science student with an art history minor, I am interested in the intersections between the sciences and the humanities. I have found that community outreach and education is a fantastic method to merge these two pursuits. Engaging in the outreach goal of Alabama Extension to provide research-based information to the public of Alabama is what interests me the most about this experience. I am particularly excited about working in the agricultural crop production program area, as I feel that this will supplement and enhance my education as a student in Auburn University’s College of Agriculture.

This summer, I plan to build my skills in community agricultural outreach, as well as program planning logistics. I also hope to gain a deeper, more well-rounded understanding of the role of Extension in Alabama agriculture. I feel that this internship experience will help me in my future career by strengthening my passions for environmental and agricultural work and giving me an example of how these can be employed successfully.

Postinternship

I had such a fantastic summer as an intern with Alabama Extension! I was able to delve deep into my agricultural outreach interests through my personal project of planning and executing a commercial pesticide applicator training for agricultural professionals in the Tallapoosa County area. I am so proud of this program, as it offered valuable continuing education credits to growers and provided them with information on how to apply pesticides safely and mindfully. Organizing this program also helped me develop event planning and logistics skills that will most certainly benefit me in my career.

My biggest takeaway from this internship is how important Extension is to Alabama’s agricultural community. By connecting me with growers, agricultural professionals, and ag crop Extension agents and specialists, this position taught me that the research and outreach work that Extension does is truly one of a kind. I would recommend an Alabama Cooperative Extension System internship to anyone with a passion for research-based outreach and wants an opportunity to serve the people of Alabama.