Growing up off a dirt road in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, my passion for agriculture emerged at an early age. As a child, my recreational activities included playing with my two older brothers in tomato fields, almond orchards, and irrigation ditches; raising chickens and barn owls; and experimenting with new vegetable crops in my family’s garden. This rural upbringing provided important lessons about the interconnectedness of our natural environment, food production, and people’s wellbeing, which set me on the path of exploring socially and environmentally responsible farming in the U.S. and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I began my career marketing California-grown produce on a global scale and supporting farmers to implement conservation programs. Later, I served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, where I worked with smallholder farmers to improve crop productivity through sustainable agricultural practices. My experience in the Peace Corps highlighted the multitude of challenges facing small-scale farmers, from the lack of access to capital and extension services to climate vulnerability and crop failure. Recognizing the need for more technical support in the field, I decided to pursue a master’s degree at Cornell University to strengthen my capacity as a development practitioner and refine my skills as a project manager. In recent years, I have managed large, international donor-funded development projects in Liberia, South Sudan, and Sudan, building resilience with farmers, cooperatives, and community associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the Program Coordinator with Cornell Small Farms Program, I aim to support farmers and facilitators in the online course offerings and will manage the funding streams that support the entire program. Leaning on my education and experience, I am excited to contribute to this critical work of serving beginner and small-scale farmers. Personally, I am also interested in advancing soil health through agroforestry and integrating livestock in cropping systems in New York State and the broader Northeast 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