Bridging the gap: How integrating extension into graduate programs can prepare students for future careers

Throughout my childhood, I grew up surrounded by the city of St. Louis, agricultural landscapes, and the Shawnee National Forest. Each of these landscapes shaped my relationship with nature, land management, and their intersection with human interactions in
unexpected ways, showcasing the importance of conservation and thoughtful stewardship of our environment. As I stepped into academia, I immediately jumped into the world of science communication through several extension activities. With family working in agriculture, I truly enjoyed engaging with growers, linking our work to real-time concerns in management. When I moved to a Ph.D. program in forest health, the observations of state land managers heavily shaped my project. Each year, I had opportunities to give research updates at management meetings and build relationships with teams of multi-state forest health specialists. These
relationships not only improved the quality of the research I conducted but also provided key networking and mentoring opportunities. Each of these graduate experiences prepared me for a position as Assistant Extension Professor and State Extension Specialist in a joint position at both the University of Missouri and Lincoln University. I hope to establish a research program based on community needs throughout the state, translating results into extension products. To do this successfully, I am
building partnerships and collaborations with federal, state, university, industry, and nonprofit organizations. I look forward to serving the community I grew up in and bridge the gap between scientific research and the constituents of Missouri.