Alumni Spotlights

November 11, 2025

"My passion for agriculture started long before college, but Penn State gave me the technical foundation, professional confidence, and versatility I needed to turn that passion into a meaningful career."

October 27, 2025

"Be flexible. The world is changing fast. There are jobs that will exist in the future that don't exist yet. AI is changing things. Work hard, believe in yourself, and you’ll accomplish a lot."

October 1, 2025

"In winemaking, the idea of being true to the grape has guided me in my work. Being respectful of the fruit has helped me make a better bottle of wine. You have to appreciate what you have and help the fruit express itself in the best way so the wine can perform to its full potential. This idea is also true of people, not just grapes. As a leader, you need to help people become their best and reach their full potential."

September 15, 2025

"I've taught myself so much after college simply because I had this ag education foundation. That's been one of my big takeaways, that when I have a problem, I can work towards an answer."

August 27, 2025

"As alumni, we're a massive set of stakeholders out there in the world doing things. By coming back and engaging with the University, we can bring our world experiences to the University to make it a better and continually relevant place. We can also support the current students who will follow in our footsteps."

August 1, 2025

"CED prepared me to think critically and to work in the semi-public and semi-private space. It gave me unique skills and a story to tell. Penn State and the CED program helped me learn how to talk about my work, critically think and analyze data, feel confident in unfamiliar environments and take on challenging, unfamiliar projects. I see so many ways that CED shows up in my career today."

July 16, 2025

"Be diverse and be authentic. Find what you're passionate about in your field of study and pour everything you've got into that."

July 1, 2025

"I think there's a big Penn State family out there. So many people have done so many cool things, whether they go back to their family business and reinvent it or they're like us and plant the seeds and grow this dream they had. There's a lot of respect for all of it. I think it's great that you can find someone that's blue and white to the core and they're willing to help."

June 16, 2025

"Penn State and all of the experiences I had the fortune to be involved in really has been critical in maintaining my confidence that I can serve the dairy industry to the greatest extent. Everything I've been able to contribute throughout my career stems from the network of support from Penn State and the College of Agricultural Sciences"

June 2, 2025

"No matter where I am in the world, I still try to stay tuned in to what’s happening on campus. The culture of the school was positive, inviting, and accepting. My ideas and thoughts were respected and valued. The culture of togetherness and how people really want to help and rally around you was greatly appreciated. That’s something to be proud of!"

May 9, 2025

"There's something different about the Penn State College of Ag Sciences. People care deeply, invest in one another and celebrate each other."

April 24, 2025

"I’ve been with the Forest Service for 41 years and have held 19 different positions. I love the variety of work that we do. I have lived in 14 different locations and traveled to 49 of the 50 states. I love that I take care of your land. We take care of the nation's forest and grasslands for current and future generations. This is our legacy."

March 31, 2025

"I love that we have a really engaged alumni network and such a great scholarship and awards program. Your time at Penn State doesn't end when you graduate. There are opportunities to stay engaged and stay involved."

March 7, 2025

"Helping people solve water quality problems is a privilege. I assist in connecting municipalities to financing and resources needed to improve water quality and lives, a position of public service, Penn State prepared me for."

February 21, 2025

"It's good to have a plan and have goals, but it’s even better to be open to other things that you never thought of. If you go through life being kind to people and leaving doors open, the choices will be there."

January 29, 2025

"If you're willing to learn, do the work, and be patient everything will fall into place."

January 2, 2025

"Stay active, keep moving, and surround yourself with the best people."

December 2, 2024

"Don’t be afraid of change or trying something new. Definitely take your chance on something if you think it might be something you’d really love."

September 10, 2024

"Penn State really taught me that you can make a great plan and work out everything on paper, but sometimes you have to pivot."

August 5, 2024

"Just like hurdling in track, you jump over it, and then there's another hurdle. You have steps in between. There are times we fly over hurdles in life, but there are also times you hit a hurdle and you fall to the ground, and you have to get back up. I think a lot of it is how can you be resilient?"