Extension Educator & Program Manager University of Minnesota Extension St. Paul, Minnesota
In this presentation, I will reflect on my journey from a graduate student in entomology to Extension educator and program manager in pesticide safety and environmental education at the University of Minnesota. My master’s thesis in entomology focused on IPM of key pests in Minnesota apple orchards. My entomology degree and several experiences, including grower talks and developing an extension publication, gave me some valuable skills (both technical and soft) that have been transferable to my work as an educator. As a pesticide safety educator, I focus on training commercial pesticide applicators in agriculture on best management practices, personal safety, environmental protection, and how changes in regulation impact their work. I have found that striving for improvement, rather than perfection, creates a positive learning environment for a mixed group of novice and experienced applicators.
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