The team for the 2014-15 Academic year is:
Angela Carson
Forest Engineering and Natural Resources
Senior, Portland, OR
I grew up in the Portland area surrounded by tall Douglas-fir trees on a half-acre at the edge of a forest. My parents grew Christmas trees as a hobby when I was young and I loved to know the names of each variety as well as being able to differentiate between them all. I always enjoyed anything that took me into the woods, whether it was camping, hiking or climbing trees. I started my education at Portland Community College, and earned an associate's degree before trying my luck in the workforce.
It was the College of Forestry with the amazing McDonald-Dunn teaching forest at Oregon State University that peaked my interest in academics and brought me back to school. The forest features spectacular old-growth stands coupled with actively managed landscapes that showcase the different approaches that we can take in forest management policies and practices.
Currently I am working toward a double degree in Forest Engineering and Natural Resources. I want to pursue an education in forestry that helps me to better understand our ecosystem as a whole and considers often opposing views on the management of these resources.
Beaver Nation has a magic about it. Whether it is at athletic greatness or academic brilliance, Oregon State provides a medium for the students to always strive for the highest. Many of my professors are excellent examples of this mentality, contributing breakthrough research that is both valuable and useful not just to the university, but to the entire state of Oregon.
I wanted to become an Ambassador for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources because it provides the opportunity to engage with current and future students. Also I love the idea of sharing the opportunities that are here at OSU with prospective students and help them to find their niche in life.
Hanna Gomes
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Junior, Fort Jones, CA
Growing up outside a rural town in Northern California I was always outdoors. Whether it is hunting, fishing or camping I have a passion and love to be outdoors. During my youth I was highly involved in 4-H and FFA showing livestock for over ten years. I had a love for showing swine and being highly competitive at the local county fair. During my years in 4-H and FFA I became a strong advocate for agriculture and knew it would be an important part of my life to educate people about agriculture
From a young age I found my passion in hunting big game with my father. I decided that managing big game species would be my career path. With this career my ultimate goal will be to maintain populations for future generations to be able to hunt and manage. During the summer I work on a High Mountain Lake Survey Crew in the Marble Mountain Wilderness of Northern California. The crew is studying and surveying for fish and amphibians as well as planting fish. I work with Cascades Frog, Rainbow and Brook Trout. After graduating from Oregon State I hope to work in Idaho managing big game populations.
When deciding where I should pursue my wildlife degree I felt that Oregon State would be the best fit for me. It was not too far from home and had a great Fisheries and Wildlife degree program. I plan to obtain a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife as well as Leadership and Natural Resource minors. In addition to being an Ambassador, I am also actively involved with Sigma Alpha- a Professional Agricultural Sorority at Oregon State.
As an Ambassador for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources I hope to share my story and experiences with perspective and current students. I also hope to gain more leadership experience that I can take and use in my future career.
Brooke Greenshields
Animal Science with pre-veterinary medicine option
Junior, Joseph, Oregon
Being raised on a small farm in rural Eastern Oregon fueled my passion for animals at an early age. I often toddled after my father, a local veterinarian, and learned everything I could about the animals he treated and the procedures he used. My love for animals lead me to participate in horse and livestock 4-H as well as the National FFA Organization. In high school, I could be found working at my father’s veterinary clinic and going on emergency calls with him at every opportunity.
Along with a passion for animals, I have always had a strong love of the outdoors. Growing up in the beautiful Wallowa County with the mountains in my backyard, I enjoyed many backpacking and wilderness adventures. The last two summers, I spent many hours in the woods fighting fire for the Forest Service and working to help maintain forest ecosystem health. My combined love for animals and the outdoors motivated me to pursue an education in animal science.
A conference I attended in high school brought me to the Oregon State University campus for the first time. Although I hadn’t planned on attending OSU, I immediately decided to add it to my list of potential colleges and research all it had to offer. I ultimately couldn’t ignore my love for the community, campus, staff, facilities, excellent agricultural science program, and state of the art veterinary school.
Now, a true Beaver Believer, I’m honored to have the opportunity to represent such an exceptional university and academic community. As an Ambassador of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources, I am excited for the privilege to be an advocate for these disciplines I am deeply passionate about. My goal is to learn about the many opportunities available at OSU and be a friendly face as well as a knowledgeable, encouraging advisor to prospective and incoming students.
Lucia Hadell
Natural Resources
Junior, Talent, Oregon
I grew up in the small town of Talent, Oregon but never particularly considered myself a "small town girl." My parents made sure to take me on as many camping trips as possible to various places in the Pacific Northwest, helping me gain such a familiarity with the area that I honestly consider my home to span along most of the West Coast. Since I can remember, my two prevailing passions have been writing and nature. I wore my first pair of hiking boots the same year I learned to walk, and I wrote my first short story the same year I learned how to use punctuation.
Up until high school I was not too concerned about what career I would pursue. It was then that I began to discover an interest in the social sciences through psychology, history, and government classes, but I did not know how I could incorporate writing and nature into a path in the sociological direction. Everything came together my senior year of high school when I took a course in environmental science and began to learn that many careers deal with the relationship between humans and nature. I came to OSU seeking a major that would give me the tools I needed to communicate to and engage the public in issues pertaining to human interactions with nature. I knew that in order to be an effective communicator, I needed hands-on experience with ecology and natural resources management, and the College of Forestry offered exactly that.
In the spring of my freshman year I landed a job working at the OSU College Forests twenty minutes from campus. I help with tasks outside, such as trail work and invasive plant management, as well as in the office on public outreach information and other communications. Both my job and the flexible Natural Resources curriculum have helped me build upon my pre-existing appreciation for nature by teaching me about the science behind the beauty I’ve always admired but never understood. Furthermore, I am continuing my liberal arts interests through the University Honors College and the International Degree Program.
After working as a START leader in the summer of 2013, I knew I wanted to pursue more opportunities that allowed me to spread knowledge and enthusiasm to others. This interest is what led me to apply for the Ambassador position. I am honored to be part of the team and am looking forward to meeting and conversing with a variety of people in the upcoming year!
Christine Mapes
Agricultural Business Management and Environmental Economics and Policy
Sophomore, Scappoose, OR
My appreciation for agriculture began in the small town of Scappoose, Oregon where I grew up on the back of a horse. The love I had for horses led me to an eight-year involvement with 4H where I was first exposed to the many other aspects of agriculture. In high school, I did not have the opportunity to be involved in FFA or enroll in agricultural education classes, so I never really considered pursuing a career in an agricultural or forestry-related field. After a year of enrollment in Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon, I decided I wanted to investigate what Oregon State University and the College of Agricultural Sciences had to offer. After researching the programs and touring campus, I fell in love with Oregon State and knew I had to transfer.
I have always had a passion for the outdoors and the health of the Earth, and upon transferring to Oregon State; I decided to pursue a double degree in Environmental Economics & Policy and Agricultural Business Management. I hope to one day use my Oregon State education to be a consultant for farmers and ranchers on the economic benefits to green and sustainable agriculture to help ensure the future health of our planet.
Being able to experience and compare two great universities has given me an immense appreciation for all that Oregon State has to offer. The sense of community within the College of Agricultural Sciences, the hands-on opportunities you receive as a student, the beautiful campus and the encouraging faculty that you create relationships with, all make Oregon State an inviting and desirable place to further your education in the field of agriculture. I am beyond excited to be an Ambassador for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources so that I can guide prospective students towards their path in creating an academic experience that will lead to a career derived from a passion.
Tiffany Netz
Forest Engineering/Civil Engineering
Senior, Roseburg, Oregon
Growing up in Roseburg, Oregon I had a lot of opportunities to explore the outdoors. Some of the most enjoyable memories I have are of spending time out in the forests with my dad. Be it hunting, fishing, gold prospecting, shooting or picking blackberries I loved every second. In high school I batted around ideas of what I wanted to do with my life. I loved math and science and enjoyed being outside, but I didn’t really realize I could use all of those things in one career.
I came to Oregon State as a general engineering major to fulfill my desire for a math and science based career. During Engineering Awareness Week I was required to go to presentations for three engineering majors within OSU. I went to presentations on the majors I was interested in (Ecological and Environmental Engineering), but I was not awestruck by them. On a whim I decided to go to the Forest Engineering presentation and I fell in love right away. This program had everything I was looking for and everyone I talked to was incredibly kind and helpful.
I switched majors into the Forest Engineering and Civil Engineering program the next term. It is amazing how well a major I never knew existed could fit me so perfectly. I have learned so much in the past 3 years and am so happy to be a part of such a rewarding program. Along with my courses I have also been involved with student clubs such as Strengthening Education and Employment for Diverse Students (SEEDS), Xi Sigma Pi Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and International Forestry Student Association (IFSA). I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at OSU and I look forward to developing leadership skills while sharing my experiences with prospective students as an Ambassador for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources.
Rozalyn Patrick
Environmental Economics and Policy & International Studies
Senior, Sutherlin, Oregon
Although I grew up in a small rural community in Sutherlin, Oregon I did not have an agricultural background. But I became heavily involved in The National FFA Organization in high school. This simple choice my freshman of high school kick-started my passion for agriculture. Never did I know my involvement in the FFA organization would cultivate into something more than just raising market lambs. After realizing I could not picture myself anywhere else, I decided to attend Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences. I knew I belonged here because I saw the wide range of opportunities and research available to students, the hands on learning, and the sense of community within Corvallis. These were all the ingredients needed for a student to succeed.
After arriving to Oregon State University I chose to double major in Environmental Economics and Policy and International Studies within the Honors College. This area of study has given me exposure to international economic, resource and policy areas of the agriculture industry. I am striving for a career within the sector of agriculture that allows me to stay connected to the international community. My experience at Oregon State University has given me the ability to grow as a student and as a professional, providing a holistic learning opportunity extending outside the classroom. I am proud to serve as an Ambassador this year because I plan to help students navigate their way through college as previous ambassadors once did for me. I hope to reinforce the opportunities available to students within the College of Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Natural Resources while encouraging students to become engaged by sharing their story. I am excited to be serving this year with an amazing group of Ambassadors who will be supporting one another and encouraging each other to continue growing throughout this yearlong journey.
Jasmine Unrau
Agricultural Sciences
Sophomore, Scio, Oregon
I was born and raised on a dairy farm just outside the small town of Scio, Oregon. Although I grew up on a farm, I hadn’t realized my immense interest for agriculture until I started my 4-H program in the 4th grade. From there, my interest grew even more with my involvement in the National FFA Organization upon entering high school. These experiences weighed heavily on my choice of colleges and after touring Oregon State University I knew instantly that this was the perfect college for me.
I entered Oregon State majoring strictly in Public Health, and after a term without agriculture classes I knew that the right place for me to be was the College of Agriculture Sciences. Currently, I am a sophomore studying Agriculture Sciences and Public Health with an option in Health Promotion and Health Behavior and a minor in Leadership. Being a student in the Agricultural Sciences department has been an amazing experience and has opened up a whole new world of opportunities. Coming from such a small town I was amazed by the warm welcomes I received upon entering the college and the continued support I receive from faculty, staff, and students on a regular basis. Joining this college has been one of the best decisions of my college career, and has given me the opportunity to be a part of the Agricultural Executive Council, Leadership Academy, and a variety of other clubs.
As an Ambassador for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources I am excited to share my experiences with current and prospective students, motivate them to get involved, and show them how to gain the most from their time at Oregon State University.
Early in fall term 2014 we will have a welcome reception allowing everyone to meet the new ambassadors and to learn more about them
Alex Powell
Student Director
From the start of my Freshmen Fall term at Oregon State, I have discovered that my passion for agriculture, which stemmed from my involvement in 4-H and FFA, has led me to find and get involved with some of the best organizations at Oregon State. Within the College of Agricultural Sciences I have had the opportunity to be a leader, and from these opportunities I have discovered more and more ways that I can give back to the college and develop my leadership skills. The skills I have developed from my active involvement with clubs and organizations will benefit me both professionally and personally throughout my entire life. Although I did not grow up on a farm or ranch, agriculture has always been a big part of my life, and I have a strong desire to help as many people as I can learn, and learn to talk about the industry and the career opportunities that Agriculture can provide them.
As a junior studying Agriculture Sciences I am proud to be serving as an Ambassador for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources. In order to represent the Colleges of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as the University I am working hard to develop my skills as a leader and communicator. Through my involvement with clubs and organizations such as the Leadership Academy, Agriculture Executive Council and I Love Farmers (ILF) as well as other groups on and off campus, I have learned a lot about the qualities a leader should possess and how I can develop those skills in a way that will benefit my college and my university.
As an Ambassador for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources I hope to leave an impact on prospective students as so that they might become an involved member of our OSU Community and a leader within the College of Agriculture Sciences.