Katie McLaughlin: From Penn State to Policy

Alumni Spotlight Form

Name: Katie McLaughlin

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown & Current Town: Mifflintown, PA/Carlisle, PA

Graduation Year: BS 2019

Major & Minors: BS Agricultural Science, minors in Agricultural Communications, International Agriculture

Additional Degree: MBA and a certificate in Business Sustainability Strategy

Current Professional Title: Agriculture Coordinator

Name of Employer: Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Transformation & Opportunity

Brief Description of Your Role: The Office of Transformation and Opportunity is dedicated to making Pennsylvania a more competitive place to do business. Part of that work is looking internally to see how we can help businesses open their doors faster. Permitting, licenses, certifications, etc. are a lot of that internal work and how we can help agencies improve those processes.

Externally, we want to be a partner in Pennsylvania's economic development strategy and champion that work, whether it's through being a partner in business attraction and retention, or helping folks navigate the resources across state agencies. Agriculture is a big part of that work through Pennsylvania's economic development strategy. It's formally recognized as one of Pennsylvania's core pillars for economic development.

A lot of my work day-to-day is in that field. I feel fortunate growing up on a farm and then studying agriculture to now also be working in ag and food at the government level and seeing the growth of the industry across Pennsylvania.

Why did you choose Penn State?

Penn State felt like a bit of a natural fit for me. I grew up an hour from the campus. My dad had earned his master's degree from Penn State. We were frequent tailgaters. It felt a bit like home.

After serving as a state FFA officer and really interacting with the college in that capacity, Penn State even more so felt like the right choice for me. I also think, given some of the opportunities I was pursuing, it felt important to be Pennsylvania-based and then eventually spread my wings.

Penn State was a great fit for me and really gave me the flexibility through minors and taking courses in other colleges to build a program that worked best for me. I felt fortunate to have such supportive academic advisors.

What inspired you to pursue your degree?

I was in a bit of a unique position where I knew I wanted to do something in agriculture, although I wasn't entirely sure what, and my interest was really piqued with the communications and political sciences side of the industry.

There's not a right or wrong roadmap for an academic minor or career pathway. I think for me, the ag science major gave me the flexibility to take classes outside the college to focus on communications, political science, and hone in on international ag and economic development. It ultimately was a program that worked for me and where my passions really were.

I felt fortunate to have the academic advisors I had that never shied me away from any of those things.

What clubs, organizations, or leadership roles were you involved in?

I was part of the Coaly Honor Society, Collegiate FFA where I had officer roles, Ag Student Council, and the Teach Ag Society.

What is a favorite Penn State memory?

I have a lot of great Penn State memories. I think it’s the friendships that I made along the way, the mentors I gained, and the learned ability to believe in yourself and drive toward wherever you want to go personally and professionally.

Penn State really gives you a strong foundation to find yourself. It has an amazing network. And whether it's through the clubs you join or studying abroad, you find new passions.

You studied abroad three times during your undergrad. What did you take away from those experiences and why would you encourage undergrads to pursue a study abroad opportunity?

I think there are a lot of experiences gained from studying abroad that can be hard to put value behind because they're oftentimes ones that build your soft skills. For example, it can be hard to navigate transit in a foreign country in a different language, but figuring those things out on your own develops an independence you might not have had before.

I would also say the cultural competency of learning from those who you might not traditionally interact with. That has been important for me. The study abroad program does a really nice job of putting together a whole world picture for you. You see issues impacting communities here at home but then you see those same things abroad. The coursework combined with that on-the-ground experience really enables you to appreciate people where they are, learn from them, and learn about their culture. This gives you an openness in the workplace to learn from your peers, other offices, and more.

How has your Penn State education influenced your career or life?

Penn State really gave me the foundation to pursue my passions while also not being afraid to ask for things. I was encouraged to reach out to people if there was something I really wanted to learn or someone I wanted to learn from. It never hurts to reach out.

That's probably the best advice for students. Don't wait for an invitation. If you can make that connection, whether that leads to an internship or job opportunity or not, those connection points are impactful.

What did it mean to you to be honored as the 2026 College of Ag Sciences Outstanding Recent Alumna?

It was really humbling. There are so many people in agriculture doing really important work, particularly farmers and all those in the food and agribusiness value chain. I look at all those people doing work on the ground every day, and it's just humbling to even be considered.

The award means a lot. I recognize there are so many others who have done amazing things with their Penn State degrees and continue to give back to their communities in so many ways. If anything, it’s a motivator to continue to show up for the industry and continue to be a partner.

What are one or two of your proudest accomplishments in which your Penn State education played a role?

One of my favorite projects and proudest career moments has been helping to develop a strategic plan for Pennsylvania's agricultural industry, which will be released later this year. Building off the economic development strategy, we were really positioned to say, "What's next for Pennsylvania agriculture?" Through that project, we brought together stakeholders, really listening to farmers, agribusiness, and industry, to take a deeper dive to determine what we need to do to stay competitive within the next 3, 5, 10 years and beyond.

I’m proud of that effort and proud that Pennsylvania agriculture is showing up in a really big way in economic development. Ag has always been an economic driver. We're just formalizing its seat at the table. I'm hopeful and eager to see what the next 10 years have to offer with that plan. It's really impactful work.

I'm also proud of being able to have agriculture reach out to government and have a positive experience. That’s important to me. We might not always be able to get to a "yes" or the exact resolution a farm or business is looking for, but we want to make sure there is a right pathway in the door enabling them to access government services. With the creation of our office and partnerships with state agencies, we’ve created a space where farmers and businesses can reach out, and we’re making sure state government is always a resource.

What has been the best advice you’ve ever received?

It's been really rewarding to work under Secretary Redding in a variety of capacities. He's always been one to say when your vocation and your advocation are the same, you're in a really great spot.

I think taking that to heart and recognizing how lucky we are to be a part of this industry, advocating for the people, particularly, who make this industry function is impactful. Then also letting that be your motivator to find creative solutions and get to a "yes" when you can has really motivated me through my career.

What collegiate advice or professional development tip would you give to a current student?

Don't wait for an invitation. If you're interested in something, or maybe you're waiting to hear back for a job opportunity or internship, that doesn't mean you should sit still. There's always going to be opportunities out there and you should never feel bad about trying to put yourself out there to learn from others in the industry. Don't be afraid, even if it can be uncomfortable at times.

Figure out who you want to learn from. Surround yourself with good people. You're going to have a lot of takeaways that can propel you through your career.

 Why are you proud to be a Penn State Ag Sciences alum?

It's really fascinating that regardless of where you are in the world, if you have on a Penn State shirt or pin on your backpack, you will get a "We Are!" That statement and what it stands for has had so much meaning throughout Penn State’s history. It's a unifying piece that brings Penn Staters together.

From the College of Ag Sciences standpoint, I'm really proud of where food and agriculture sits within our land-grant institution and so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend Penn State and for the experiences the college afforded me. There were numerous times throughout my undergraduate education where someone reached out with an opportunity or asked me to consider something. I really appreciate the network the college provides.

We are one big Penn State family, and I’m fortunate to be a part of that.