In middle of students from left to right Students with the Executive Marketing Director David Troupos, Vice President and Community Manager Melvin Rodriguez, Branch Manager Andrea Rodriguez, Vice President and Community Development Manager Seyi Ola, JP Morgan Chase & Co. team following their community resources and career session, held on March 26, 2026, at Rutgers.

In a traditional classroom, learning often ends when the lecture does. But during Spring 2026 at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, students engaging with the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (DAFRE) stepped into something different—an experience where coursework extended directly into conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.

Sonal Pandey, lecturer in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

Guided by Sonal Pandey, a lecturer in DAFRE, the externship-driven course in Business Finance and Innovation and Entrepreneurship reimagined what it means to prepare students for real careers.

“This initiative grew directly from the conviction that the most transformative learning happens when students are in the room with the people who are actually doing the work,” Pandey said.

She created and designed the Spring 2026 industry engagement series around a simple but powerful idea: exposure to real professionals, who grapple with real challenges, is not an enhancement to learning, but the learning itself.

“Students in agricultural and resource economics are solving some of the most complex problems of our time, like food security, sustainability and community development,” she said. “They deserve direct access to the people doing that work professionally.”

Over the semester, students engaged directly with leaders such as Sho Islam, Director of the Office of Business Engagement for Middlesex County; Melvin Rodriguez, Vice President of Community Banking and Business Development at JPMorgan Chase & Co.; and Lukman Ramsey, Head of AI Solutions and former Google leader in public sector innovation.

Each session was intentionally structured, ranging from founder talks and mock interviews to live pitch simulations. Students were not passive listeners, but active participants navigating real-world scenarios.

Students from Innovation and Entrepreneurship class in the Environmental and Business Economics major.

And for Pandey, what set the experience apart was what happened after the sessions ended.

“When a student tells you they followed up with a JPMorgan VP, or that a guest speaker invited them to a professional conference where they made real connections for their startup—that is not a classroom outcome,” Pandey said. “That is a career outcome. This program exists to make that the norm, not the exception.”

Connecting Conversations to Career Pathways for Students

For many students, those outcomes became immediate and tangible.

Sarah B. Hogan followed up with a JPMorgan executive and secured introductions to professionals in her target field—transforming a single classroom interaction into an expanding professional network.

Don O. Lopez, a student from Pandey’s “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” class, has been invited for an interview by Seyi Ola, JPMorgan’s Vice President and Community Development Manager.

Anjo Therattil, Founder & CEO of Lock Guard, presenting to the Innovation and Entrepreneurship class on January 29, 2026.

Kush Kavadia leveraged a post-session conversation into LinkedIn connections and outreach within the energy and sustainability sector. “This course completely changed how I approach my job search,” he said, noting a shift toward relationship-building over traditional applications.

Marian J. Hollenbeck turned a conversation with Sho Islam into a real-world opportunity. “Sho told me about an event the following week that I attended,” she said. “I made several connections personally and for my hydroponic farming project that I hope will take off in the near future.”

Beyond individual success stories, the externship model reshaped how students think about careers, entrepreneurship and opportunity.

Isaac Levin, who followed up with industry professionals after class, is now being introduced to senior leaders in the sustainability field—an outcome that would be difficult to replicate through traditional coursework alone.

For Aneil L. Persaud, hearing a peer founder present a startup journey reignited his own ambitions. “The spark is back,” he said. “I’m excited for the future.”

Across the cohort, students reported a fundamental shift: entrepreneurship was no longer viewed simply as starting a company, but as identifying and solving real problems—often in collaboration with others.

Designing a Model for the Future

Pandey, an academic with more than 18 years of experience across economics, business administration and AI integration, also brings a global perspective shaped by her work at institutions such as Hannan University and Shanghai Technical University.

Her long-term vision is to formalize what Spring 2026 demonstrated: a structured externship and industry engagement program embedded within DAFRE.

“This externship initiative is my way of building that bridge,” she said. “I want to see it become a permanent part of what this department offers every student.”

Such a program would create sustained partnerships across agriculture, finance, sustainability and entrepreneurship, offering students not just exposure, but continuity through mentorship pipelines and co-curricular experiences.

What began as a course innovation has the potential to become a model for how higher education can evolve to meet the realities of today’s workforce.

And for Pandey, the goal is not simply to repeat it, but to scale it.

“This is about building something lasting,” she said. “A system where every student has the opportunity to step into the room and leave with a future already in motion.”

Pictured 4th from left is Sho Islam, Director of the Office of Business Engagement, Department of Economic Development, New Jersey, with students, following his presentation. DAFRE’s Sonal Pandey is front row, fifth from left.

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A talented group of Cook College and SEBS alumni, staff, volunteers, and students collaborated on a beautiful, award-winning display at this year’s North Jersey Orchid Society show at the Douglass Student Center. Photo by Daniel Jacobs

The North Jersey Orchid Society show returned to the Douglass Student Center on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus this January, featuring a dynamic botanical display that showcased some of the plants growing at the Floriculture Greenhouse.

Danielle Lohrman (SEBS’27) makes sure the display plants look their best. Photo by Daniel Jacobs

Held January 16–18, the free annual event welcomed hobbyist growers, commercial producers and plant enthusiasts to enjoy and connect over this much-loved flowering plant family. Rutgers Gardens was a 2026 co-sponsor and exhibitor. Daniel Jacobs, assistant director: greenhouses for Rutgers Gardens, coordinated the activities for students to show off their skills and creativity in this year’s exhibit.

“I was excited to have such a great crew of students—eight Rutgers Gardens student horticulturists and two Floriculture Greenhouse students—involved in the creation of our display. The students worked alongside me, greenhouse assistant Sophia Gonzales, alumni Michael Bowell and Katie Majorossy, Nicki Graf (former Floriculture Greenhouse manager), and Plant Biology staff member Gary Huntzinger to select plants, spruce them up, and design and construct a 48-square -foot display that showcased the 28 individual orchids competing for ribbons at the show.”

Aidan Icasiano (SCI’26), who helped build the display, learned in his Intro to Horticulture class that New Jersey was once a prominent figure in the orchid industry. “Seeing all these people at the NJOS show who are really passionate about orchids reminded me of that,” illustrating how student experiences at events like this can amplify classroom-based learning.

Aidan’s fellow interns at Rutgers Gardens include Solana Garcia (SEBS ’27) and David Ackerman (SEBS ’26), who is earning a bachelor of science in landscape architecture (BSLA) degree. All were new to working with orchids but enjoyed collaborating on the display design with the group. “It was eye opening,” Solana says. “I didn’t know this world of orchids existed. But it’s a whole community of wonderful people who are all so nice. It was also cool to see Rutgers alumni support the event.”

One such alum is Michael Bowell (CC’78), who spearheaded the construction of the display. He shared details of his time working alongside the students:

Rutgers Gardens student horticulturists and Floriculture Greenhouse Assistant Sophia Gonzales construct the orchid display. Photo by Daniel Jacobs

“When I started with Rutgers Alumni Growers and Exhibitors (RAGE) many years ago with my friend Nicki Graf, I had no idea where it might lead. This year, I had the best team yet at the NJOS annual show. I came in with some building blocks such as flowering orchid plants and props. I was greeted by eight very enthusiastic students who built the exhibit. It was especially interesting having Landscape Architecture students on that team. Their observations and suggestions were spot on.”

Throughout the show weekend, the students answered questions about their display and championed the Rutgers Gardens Internship Program to members of the community. Danielle Lohrman (SEBS’27) was even asked to judge orchids and displays at the show.

She shares how this invitation came about. “I helped set up the display with the group of Rutgers Alumni Growers and Exhibitors. I was able to use my perspective as a Landscape Architecture major to create a beautiful arrangement of several orchid varieties. When the display was finished, I took the opportunity to talk to people at the event and had a wonderful conversation with Carrie Buchman, past NJOS president and show chair, and an accredited American Orchid Society (AOS) judge. She gave me the opportunity to be on the judging panel for the show, and I was quickly thrown into the world of orchid culture! Before the event, I didn’t know a single thing about orchids. Now, I can ace a round of orchid trivia and have a newfound appreciation for these beautiful plants. I even bought two of them at the show! This was a rare and wonderful experience and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community. I met so many incredible people, made many new friends, and gained extensive knowledge of this field.”

Kaitlin Gotting (SEBS’28) readies the plants in the Floriculture Greenhouse. Photo by Daniel Jacobs.

Lauren Errickson, director of Rutgers Gardens and campus stewardship, says “co-hosting the NJOS annual orchid show reinforces how Rutgers Gardens, as the university botanical garden, can facilitate key connections between our students, community and the horticulture industry, including with alumni who continue to engage with our school and help support the next generation of plant enthusiasts along the way.”

This was the first year in recent memory that Carrie Buchman wasn’t a co-chair. She took a break because she spends much of her time as an AOS judge, traveling to orchid shows all over the country and even internationally. Judges are not paid for their services. When asked why she volunteers both her time and her travel costs, Carrie responds, “You see some amazing stuff.”

She’s also thrilled that this annual show at Trayes Hall in the Douglass Student Center has continued. “There are now 11 AOS awards given out at the NJOS Annual Show, which is practically unheard of, in a good way.” That is an indicator of the growth potential this collaborative event has, with countless opportunities for student involvement and volunteering, both with future events and within the local orchid societies to continue gaining experience and education. “It’s a huge effort to put this event on. The partnership between the NJOS and Rutgers is a big win and a mutually beneficial relationship for everybody.”

At the NJOS show, Carrie is responsible for creating all plant labels and ensuring they are correct at each display, which is a very involved and detailed process. She notes, “It’s like pulling teeth,” to get all the plant registration sheets with the information to perform these duties. This year, the students managed the process for the RAGE display, and according to Carrie, “They did an amazing job. Everything was delivered on time right to my email address without any issues or need to chase down the information.”

Rutgers Gardens students celebrate their collection of ribbons for the orchid display they helped create. From left to right: Danielle Lohrman, Solana Garcia, Grace Silva, and David Ackerman. Photo by Moira Keihm

Daniel Jacobs continues, “The group was awarded 15 total ribbons, including 8 first place ribbons for different orchid categories, and the exhibit won second prize in the display category! I’m proud of how well our students did, many of whom hadn’t handled an orchid until this weekend. It brought me joy to watch our students connect with alumni and learn and laugh with them.”

“I am so proud of them,” states Michael Bowell. “Dan is doing a great job there at the Floriculture Greenhouse. I am committed to serving as a volunteer with Rutgers students as long as they’ll have me. It’s my way of celebrating my success in horticulture and giving back to RU. I spend some of my best years as a Rutgers student, building the Hortus Society and helping organize the flower show in Blake Hall in 1978, as well as being a member of the RU Marching Band!”

North Jersey Orchid Society volunteers come to the Rutgers Floriculture Greenhouse four to six times per year to pot up and care for orchid plants, and to share their knowledge with students. At the annual show, Rutgers Gardens staff were also given a special behind-the-scenes tour by Joseph Rohal, co-chair of the NJOS Annual Show. Says Jacobs, “The team learned about the American Orchid Society and its judging criteria, the role local chapters like NJOS play in building community and spreading knowledge, and a little bit about this very diverse plant family. Despite the cold and snow, I would call the show a success!”

A version of this article originally appeared in the January 2026 Friends of Rutgers Gardens newsletter. Subscribe to receive monthly updates from Rutgers Gardens here.

One of the gorgeous orchid displays at the NJOS annual show. Photo by Bayard Saraduke

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Apprentices explore the oyster nursery at the Aquaculture Innovation Center (AIC). Photo: Jenny Shinn

Ryan Myers became interested in New Jersey’s oyster farming industry two years ago when a Rutgers aquaculture expert spoke at his high school. 

Myers, now 18, heard about Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program  (ASAP), a workforce development program offered through Rutgers and its partners connecting students with businesses to learn about New Jersey’s oyster farming and receive on-the-job training.

The program starts with a one-week boot camp of intensified training followed by eight weeks of apprenticeship at a business. Students learn about shellfish hatchery operations in parallel with small business skills such as marketing, balancing finances and aquaculture regulations.

“The boot camp is the heart of the program,” said Michael Acquafredda, assistant extension specialist in aquaculture at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, who spoke at Myers’ school. “It ensures that each apprentice receives basic training and can operate safely on a farm. But the apprentices really develop their skills during their farm-based work placements, and they learn those skills directly from our partner farmers.”

Matt Williams (left) and Ryan Myers (right) pose by the Cape Shore Laboratory, where ASAP’s bootcamp is hosted. Photo: Mitaali Taskar

The program appealed to Myers. 

That summer he began working under the guidance of Matt Williams, who owns South Bay Shellfish Company, a wholesale oyster farming and shucking company in Cape May. The operation is fairly local – most, but not all, of his oysters are sold in Cape May County. It’s also a small operating team, consisting only of him, his wife, his brother and now Myers.

The timing of Myers’ arrival was right. The business was being housed in a new building with new machinery and Williams said he “wanted another set of hands to see the optimal rate of hands needed to work this machinery.”

By learning to cultivate oysters and other shellfish, Myers and students like him walk a path deeply rooted in New Jersey history. Rutgers has been involved in shellfishery research since the late 1800s and the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory is now situated in Port Norris, N.J., which is a historic oyster village with a rich history of harvesting and shucking.

Oyster production in New Jersey reached its heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but, after years of overharvesting and two devastating diseases (MSX in the 1950s and Dermo around the 1980s and 1990s), the oyster populations dwindled. In response, Rutgers committed to breeding disease-resistant oyster lines. Today, the seeds from those lines are can be licensed by local farmers.

New Jersey oysters have been making a comeback since the 2010s – and the Rutgers Coastal Campus has spent the past 100-plus years supporting this resurgence.

ASAP was designed by the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory (part of the Rutgers Coastal Campus), the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, and local industry partners.

“Oyster farming is a restorative practice,” Acquafredda said. “ASAP supports our greater mission at the Haskin lab to make our science usable and used.”

As of 2023, the New Jersey shellfish industry accounted for about 90% of New Jersey’s total aquaculture sales. Direct sales of mollusks, namely oysters and clams, had an estimated value of $11.78 million, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. With ASAP, students have the opportunity to engage in this blue economy.

Since its inception in 2022 to now, ASAP has worked within the Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties to promote aquaculture literacy. Through in-classroom lessons, the ASAP team has engaged more than 1,500 high school students in an effort to educate and recruit. Of those that apply, less than 15 students are selected for the program each year.

An apprentice (left) works with Lisa Calvo (right) during the summer program.
Photo: Jenny Shinn

ASAP was envisioned to hook young people into an industry they might not have even heard of and fill a need for seasonal and full-time workers. The program has trained 33 students, with 64% of the latest cohort continuing to work with their partner farmers in some capacity in the summer after the program ended.

“I don’t think there is a program like this elsewhere in the state,” said Jenny Shinn, a Rutgers field researcher who works with Acquafredda. She specializes in oyster restoration and community education.

The program was designed from the start to include members of the local industry as much as possible. One of the original collaborators is Lisa Calvo, a former Rutgers marine scientist and celebrated oyster farmer whose restaurant, Sweet Amalia Market & Kitchen, was named in the New York Times’ 2024 Restaurant List. 

“ASAP was her brainchild,” Acquafredda said. “Because of her uniquely keen insight into the skills the oyster industry needs “[Lisa] keeps us real and realistic.”

Acquafredda also collaborates with Diana Burich, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s director of education, to design this out-of-school educational experience. Together, they run a part of the program out of the Cape Shore Laboratory and the New Jersey Aquaculture Innovation Center, both part of the Rutgers Coastal Campus.

ASAP has been renewed until 2027 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant Program and organizers of the program hope to eventually turn ASAP into a sustainable long-term partnership with its industry partners.

During the apprenticeship, Myers and Williams were working full-time, often spending around half the day in the water and half the day sorting the catch. Along the way, Williams found himself teaching Myers other crucial skills that popped up when running an oyster farm, such as welding.

Myers chose to stay with the company after the program. These days he is simultaneously working with Williams and earning a data science degree online. Myers said he plans to continue working on the farm after he graduates and starts looking for a job in his field of study.

“If AI takes tech away from me, at least oyster farming works out,” he said jokingly.

Williams said Myers “came with a good work ethic. And if you learn how to work hard as a teenager, it sets you up for life.” 

Williams credits ASAP for selecting hard-working candidates who are keen to listen, learn and work. He added students “don’t have to want to work here their whole life, but it does teach them hard work and responsibility.”

Editor’s note: This article was written by Mitaali Taskar, a science communicator and research project assistant with Rutgers Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and first appeared in Rutgers Today. 

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Attendees in the SEBS Office of Research’s inaugural “Charting a Research Pathway” event, get to know each other, discussing their field, research and impact work.

Faculty from SEBS and NJAES gathered on Rutgers’ Cook Campus in January to kick off a dialogue that the SEBS Office of Research hopes will lead to an increase in the high-quality, cross-disciplinary research at Rutgers that often significantly impacts the state and our society, at large.

The in-person event was the kickoff of the office’s inaugural “Charting a Research Pathway” series. Over the next few months, more than 35 faculty members will delve into their own research vision, understand where their own career hopes and goals intersect, and collaborate across disciplines to develop transdisciplinary research efforts that address various impact areas.

Attendees get to know each other, discussing their field, research, and impact work.

By design, this workshop series will position SEBS/NJAES research and extension faculty to find maximum synergy. Together, they will leverage each other’s expertise and networks to develop research plans that have both a high standard of quality research and societal impact. 

“Research and Extension are not two separate activities,” said Josh Kohut, dean of research at SEBS and director of research at NJAES. “We are meant to do this work together.” 

In undertaking this work, faculty attendees hope to position themselves strategically in the currently shifting research landscape. This landscape was elucidated by the workshop’s various speakers, including Brian Schilling, director, Rutgers Cooperative Extension; Dominique Carter, Ph.D. of Lewis-Burke Associates; George LeBlanc, vice president for government and fiscal affairs in the Department of Government Relations at Rutgers; and Kay Bidle, professor, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences.

At this kickoff, attendees received advice on how to be more proactive in their research pursuits. In frank and informative talks, both Carter and LeBlanc discussed how the national and state research priorities are shifting focus toward use-inspired research, as well as how SEBS and NJAES faculty can respond.

Both speakers emphasized a focus on societal impact in conjunction with their research. They also noted how the funding calls from some government agencies increasingly look for cross-disciplinary teams to undertake large, highly impactful research. 

“Finding research funding can be challenging, but those challenges often spark the clarity needed to refine a powerful research vision. Through this workshop series, we’re helping faculty turn the funding landscape into an opportunity.  We want SEBS faculty to have an opportunity to articulate their goals, strengthen their ideas, and position their work for the greatest impact “said Janice McDonnell, SEBS Associate Dean of Research Impact.

Kay Bidle, professor, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, described his team’s research approach to “Convergence Research.”

McDonnell notes “identifying the right funding can be a challenge, but it’s also a meaningful step toward building a research vision that aligns with our land grant mission. Through this workshop series, we’re helping faculty transform the search for resources for long-term transdisciplinary impact.”

This was further stressed by Bidle. At Rutgers, he has pursued an area of research prioritized by NSF called Convergence Research—an idea that became of interest to several attendees.

“In convergence research, cross-discipline co-creation is absolutely essential,” Bidle said, as he explained the cross-field interconnected nature of his research group. He attributed closely integrated, cross-field collaboration and incubation as essential to the new discoveries found within the project. “That’s the type of thing NSF is looking for in funded projects tackling grand challenge questions.”

“I really want to make this happen in my world,” said Elizabeth Snyder, associate professor, Department of Animal Sciences, who attended the workshop. Snyder is looking forward to convening a team within her department and beyond to develop a convergence research approach.

As the workshop series progresses, attendees will have the opportunity to explore research questions that will require collaboration between fields from the start. They will also gain more insight into federal, foundation, and industry funding opportunities. In the end, they will work in cross-disciplinary teams to develop their own transdisciplinary concept paper ready for funding calls.

For faculty interested in developing their research impact potential, please contact Janice McDonnell, Associate Dean of Research Impact at SEBS, at mcdonnel@marine.rutgers.edu.

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NJAES Executive Director Laura Lawson addresses delegates at the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo in Atlantic City.

Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) played a leading role in shaping the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo (formerly the New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show), held January 21–23 at Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.

In remarks to the delegates, NJAES Executive Director Laura Lawson expressed appreciation to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, State Board of Agriculture President Bob Blew, Farm Bureau President Alan Carter, and the representatives of New Jersey’s agricultural community for the opportunity to once again address the convention. She conveyed greetings on behalf of Rutgers University President William F. Tate IV, Chancellor Francine Conway and Provost Jason Geary, noting Rutgers’ deep commitment to its land-grant mission and to serving the state’s agricultural community at the highest levels of university leadership.

Director of Rutgers Cooperative extension Brian Shilling listens attentively during the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo.

Lawson also highlighted the release of the 2025 NJAES Annual Report and reaffirmed the experiment station’s focus on four critical issue areas that build sustainable and resilient communities across New Jersey: advancing viable agriculture and aquaculture; ensuring healthy outcomes in food, nutrition, and health; promoting positive youth development; and protecting and sustaining natural resources. Together, she noted, these priorities demonstrate NJAES’s continued dedication to innovation, partnership and practical solutions that strengthen New Jersey agriculture and the communities it supports.

In partnership with the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey, NJAES’ Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) helped deliver one of the region’s most comprehensive agricultural education programs—reinforcing the university’s impact on farm viability and the state’s agricultural economy.

RCE agricultural agents Michelle Infante-Casella (Gloucester County) and William Bamka (Burlington County) co-chaired the wide-ranging Rutgers educational program, coordinating 82 presenters across three days of workshops and concurrent sessions. The event drew a sold-out trade show floor and strong statewide participation from farmers, agricultural professionals, 4-H and FFA students, and industry partners.

Pre-convention workshops set the tone with hands-on, practical learning experiences. Sessions focused on On-Farm Food Safety, Pesticide Safety, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Pest Diagnostics, and Farm Labor and Regulations—core areas where Rutgers research directly supports farm productivity, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship.

New for 2026, the IPM Workshop provided interactive training with microscopes, pheromone traps, and pest specimens, translating Rutgers research into real-world applications growers can implement immediately.

RCE hosted five concurrent morning sessions and five afternoon sessions on day one that covered a wide range of commodities and production systems. Topics included Technology for Field Crop Production, Vegetable Production, Tree Fruit and Small Fruit, Nursery Crops, Blueberries and Greenhouse Production. These sessions highlighted science-based practices that increase crop yields, improve quality, reduce input costs, and promote sustainable land management—key drivers of New Jersey’s multibillion-dollar agricultural sector.

Timothy Waller, RCE agricultural agent and department head (Cumberland County) who works with nursery crops, conducts one of the multiple Rutgers educational programs delivered in partnership with the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey.

Day two highlighted by a keynote address from Temple Grandin, world-renowned animal scientist and professor at the University of Colorado. Her presentation drew farmers, educators, 4-H members and FFA students from across the region. Rutgers strategically aligned its Equine and Livestock sessions with Grandin’s appearance, further strengthening engagement with the animal agriculture community. Additional educational sessions led by Rutgers faculty and agents addressed Environmental Issues in Agriculture, Soil Health and Cover Cropping, Cut Flower Production, Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Marketing and Specialty Crops.

Beyond knowledge transfer, the expo delivered direct professional value. The RCE program provided NJDEP Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits—offering more credits than in 2025—and reinforced critical safety and pest management practices. RCE personnel remain central to pesticide education and the state’s licensing process, helping ensure that New Jersey agriculture operates safely, sustainably, and in compliance with state regulations.

By translating university research into actionable guidance, Rutgers continues to strengthen key pillars of New Jersey’s agricultural economy, including farm profitability, environmental resilience, and workforce development.

With momentum growing and planning already underway for the 2027 Expo, Rutgers Cooperative Extension remains at the forefront of advancing innovation, collaboration, and economic vitality across the Garden State’s agricultural community.

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Patrick McMullen

Please join me in welcoming Patrick McMullen as our newest tenure-track faculty member. Patrick joins us from Cornell University, where he recently completed his PhD focused on soilborne pathogen management and healthy crop establishment. He earned a

bachelor’s degree in biology from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. He joins our faculty and staff at the Atlantic County office of Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Mays Landing, where his outreach and Extension practice will focus on sustainable commercial vegetable production.

I wish to thank the search committee, chaired by Gary Pavlis, for their diligence in recruiting, reviewing, and interviewing candidates.

A big “Thank You” goes out to local growers John Vanni and Jennifer LaMonaca, members of the search committee, and all the members of the Atlantic County Board of Agriculture for their commitment to filling this position and providing farm visits for all of our candidates.

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FAME Fall 2025 cohort interviews Professor Rong Di in her plant biology lab.

The FAME (Food, Agriculture, and Marine Ecosystems) afterschool 4-H program at Rutgers is transforming how high school students engage with science by combining in-person, science-in-action tours, interviews with scientists and collaborative video storytelling. FAME offers a unique 12-week after-school experience where students don’t just learn about science—they become active participants in scientific discovery and communication.

Participants in the December 9, 2025, FAME Showcase at Edison High School.

Funded by USDA-NIFA, the program brings high school youth into partnership with Rutgers scientists, empowering students to create compelling science video stories that bridge complex research and community understanding. High school students from Highland Park High School and Edison High School work directly with researchers in the departments of Plant Biology and Marine & Coastal Sciences, to explore cutting-edge topics like gene editing, automated phenotyping and aquaculture techniques.

FAME’s research method combines the science-in-action video storytelling model developed at Rutgers with the 4-H “Thrive” positive youth development model. Each week, youth gather in the Immersive Learning through Science Storytelling Lab where Dena Seidel (co-PI) provides the youth with science video storytelling training and supervision and Xenia Morin (Co-PI) offers lessons in agriculture and food system science.  Marissa Staffen (co-PI) and Natalia Susana Hinds oversee the high school youth recruiting and coordination. As part of the project’s research, FAME collaborates with Carleton College’s Science Education Resource Center to monitor and evaluate the participating youth’s STEM learning through storytelling. 

“The FAME program has been the most exciting, engaging, thought-provoking science experience that our students have ever had an opportunity to do,” said Keisha Stephens, a teacher from Highland Park High School. “Students were learning real-world science while creating a story. Our students left with the best experiences ever.”

At the end of each cohort, high school student teams share their science video stories with their communities, families and the scientists with whom they work in a FAME Showcase, which was held this year at Edison High School on December 9.

FAME Fall 2025 cohort interviews Distinguished Professor Eric Lam about his research studying the food security and biofuel potential of duckweed.

The FAME research team developed this innovative after-school program to study immersive STEM learning through storytelling. Rather than traditional lectures, high school students step into greenhouses, laboratories and research sites where science unfolds in real time. They interview Rutgers plant and marine food system scientists, edit video of their interviews and laboratory research in action and craft 3–6-minute video stories that make complex concepts accessible, engaging and exciting to their peers. 

“I’m so glad that my alma mater, Rutgers University, and the FAME program have gotten together to bring our students into the lab where they can do real research with real Rutgers scientists,” said Charles Ross, principal of Edison High School. “Just as importantly, they find ways to tell the story of the research and let the masses find out about science in that 21st century visual way. I am so glad our students have this opportunity to see how they belong in the halls of academia.”

Colby Koutrakos, a junior in Ecology and Evolution, is involved in supporting the high school students in the program. “It’s a joy to see how quickly these high school students take their experience in labs and then create thoughtful and inspiring science stories they then share with their peers and families,” said Koutrakos.

FAME high school students interview Rutgers doctoral student Idrice Kue Foka, who is studying plant molecular biology

High school student testimonials reflect the program’s transformative power. “This is my first time in a science lab and they’re really inspiring because they went through a lot of hard work to get here,” shared Jaydy, a student participant. “It’s my responsibility to help get their message across.”

Student Aadithi added, “I interviewed Dr. Rong Di about what specific plants she’s been working on for food security.” Her partner Sai reflected on the personal growth experienced through the program: “As I saw her open herself up, I started to open myself up more too.”

High school students gain authentic experience in science communication through interviewing, video editing, writing and recording narration and then presenting their finished stories. They are also learning skills that prepare them for workforce pathways in agricultural and food system-related fields.

“In the end, FAME is not simply about agriculture or marine ecosystems,” said James Simon, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Biology. “It is about giving young people the tools, and the confidence, to take their place in the story of science.”

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Alayne Torretta, 4-H agent and department head, RCE of Warren County, at right, is presented with the 25 Years of Service Award by Alyssa Walden, president of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals.

Five Extension professionals with the 4-H Department of Youth Development, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, were recognized with national awards for their work supporting 4-H Youth Development in New Jersey by the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals this fall. The annual conference, which was held in Atlanta, GA, this year, recognized “those individuals who have excelled in their professional responsibilities, created outstanding programming, and have reached milestones in their careers.”

L-R: Alyssa Walden, president of the National Association of 4-H Youth Development Professionals; Kiersten Keywood, daughter of Jeanette Rea Keywood; and Jill Brambe, president and CEO of National 4-H Council, at the National 4-H Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

In addition, Jeannette Rea-Keywood, state 4-H agent who passed away in 2021, was posthumously inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during a separate ceremony preceding the conference. A faculty member of Rutgers Cooperative Extension in the Department of 4-H Youth Development for more than 30 years at both the county (22 years) and state (9 years) levels, Jeanette was an active member of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals and Epsilon Sigma Phi. She held numerous offices at the state and national levels in both professional organizations and chaired the National ESP conference in 2016 when it was hosted in New Jersey.

Matthew Newman, Chair of the Department of 4-H Youth Development, praised the recipients.

“It is altogether appropriate that our dedicated Rutgers 4-H faculty and staff are so recognized for their commitment to excellence, both in service and programming.  The awards highlight not only individual achievement but also the collective excellence and commitment to high standards that define our 4-H team,” said Newman.

Kelly Dziak, 4-H agent, at right, and Alyssa Walden, president of NAE4-HYDP.

Kelly Dziak, 4-H agent, RCE of Morris County – Distinguished Service Award

Kelly Dziak, a NJ 4-H alumna, has served the New Jersey and Morris County 4-H Youth Development Program since 2010, with a focus on building a welcoming community and fostering a sense of belonging for both youth participants and adult volunteers. In addition to overseeing the county 4-H program, Kelly provides guidance and oversight to several state-level program such as serving as faculty advisor to the NJ 4-H Dog Project, state leader for the 4-H Leadership Academy program, and co-host of the 4-H Volunteer Ventures podcast. The 2025 Distinguished Service Award recognizes her outstanding program leadership and professional contributions to the 4-H Youth Development program. This honor reflects her dedication to the 4-H program, her commitment to high-quality educational programs, and her passion to build a supportive community for youth and adults to learn and grow.

Melissa Bright, 4-H agent, (who was unable to attend the awards banquet) is pictured with her “Achievement in Service Award.”

Melissa Bright, 4-H agent, RCE of Somerset County – Achievement in Service Award

Melissa Bright has served as an agent for the past 3.5 years, focusing on 4-H agri-science education, with an emphasis on dairy and beef cattle, livestock management, public speaking, and career readiness. She oversees all aspects of the county’s 4-H program, including club operations, volunteer recruitment, and leadership development, fostering youth engagement in agriculture and lifelong learning. This 2025 Achievement in Service Award recognizes her outstanding leadership and professional contributions to the 4-H Youth Development Program and the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals. This honor reflects Melissa’s excellence in professional attitude, continuous improvement, notable accomplishments, community involvement, and special achievements throughout her career.

Alayne Torretta, 4-H agent and department head, RCE of Warren County – 25 Years of Service Award

Alayne Torretta has served NJ 4-H since 2000. Under her direction, Warren County 4-H maintains 18 4-H clubs that all together serve 170 youth. Among the primary responsibilities, she supports volunteer development and state and federal reporting. A NJ State 4-H Positive Youth Development Champion, she has served on the NJ 4-H State Steering Committee and the NJ State 4-H Global and Cultural Engagement Task Force, among other roles. She was celebrated with the 25 Years of Service Award for a quarter century of dedicated service to the ideals of 4-H youth development as well as to the national association.

Laura Bovitz, 4-H agent, and Shannon Glynn, 4-H program assistant, RCE of Middlesex County were awarded the National Award for Excellence in Healthy Living Programming for their work in the Teen Mental Health Fair in partnership with county 4-H Teen Ambassadors. In response to the growing mental health issues in youth, the fair was established with 4-H teens taking the lead in identifying issues, developing interactive activities and resources and working with 4-H staff to contact outside agencies and professionals who addressed these issues.  Topics such as stress management, social media, body image issues, dating violence, depression and anxiety and more were included in the event. 4-H teen Ambassadors continued outreach after the event through the development of a teen-led Instagram page, “Teen Balance,” that provides additional resources and uses a “teens teaching teens” approach to discuss issues of interest to teens in the area of mental wellness.

Shannon Glynn, 4-H program assistant, and Laura Bovitz, 4-H agent, presenting a poster at the national conference. The poster depicts the Teen Mental Health Fair, which earned them the “Excellence in Programming Award.”

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2025 RCLR symposium attendees.

On November 7, the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research (RCLR) held its 10th annual symposium under the theme, “Lipid regulation of cell stress and death.” The symposium, which was held at the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus, was attended by more than 90 participants.

The annual event drew researchers from all three Rutgers campuses, along with scientists from neighboring universities as well as local pharma and biotech companies. The symposium brought together an outstanding group of established and early-career investigators who shared their knowledge, results and insights into the regulation of cellular stress tolerance mechanisms and pathways of cell death by lipids.

Distinguished Professor George Carman presents Matthew L. Selby with the “George M. and Maureen D. Carman Prize in Lipids.” Shelby’s mentor Harini Sampath. associate professor, looks on.

The organizing committee for this year’s event was led by Harini Sampath, associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences.  The speaker sessions covered a range of lipid-related topics. The morning session, chaired by Harini Sampath, commenced with a talk by Scott Dixon from Stanford University who spoke about the palmitate-dependent non-apoptotic cell death followed by Yumi Imai from the University of Iowa who spoke on the traffic control of lipids to protect pancreatic islets from nutrient stress. That session ended with a lively flash talk session chaired by Christy Gliniak, assistant professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences.

The poster session followed a delightful lunch at Harvest IFNH.  The afternoon session, chaired by Igor Shmarakov, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, began with a talk by Valerian Kagan of the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University who spoke of redox lipidomics of ferroptotic regulated death program. The session ended with a talk on the alteration of hepatic Pparα and lipid metabolism in cancer cachexia presented by Wenwei Hu from the Rutgers Cancer Center.

Best flash talk awards were presented to Matthew L. Selby and Siddhi Pawar, while the best poster awards went to Natalie Burchat, Camille Duchamp and Ishaan Patil. Selby was also awarded the George M. and Maureen D. Carman Prize in Lipids, an endowed prize awarded for outstanding research achievement in the area of lipid biochemistry.

RCLR promotes multidisciplinary research on the biochemical, biophysical, cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in lipid metabolism, and extends this information to the underpinnings of lipid-based diseases such as obesity, lipodystrophy, diabetes, and heart disease. RCLR fosters interaction among faculty, postdoctoral associates, and students across the university. For more information visit rclr.rutgers.edu.

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Anneliese Kuemmerle, FCHS program associate, teaches the classes at the senior centers in Cape May County.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) of Cape May County Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) program offers a variety of presentations on living a healthy, active lifestyle for overall wellness virtually and at other locations in the county. FCHS partners with organizations to bring classes such as the Lunch and Learn Series offered online and at the Ocean City Free Public Library to a variety of locations.

In 2025, FCHS expanded its community outreach by offering free monthly wellness programs at the county’s senior centers in Lower Township, North Wildwood and Upper Township. 

Anneliese Kuemmerle, FCHS program associate, teaches the classes at the senior centers. This year, topics included physical activity guidelines, eating more fruits and vegetables, ways to eat healthy on a budget and most recently plating up pumpkins, part of the eating seasonally easily series. 

The October 29 program, which focused on the health benefits of the orange gourds, was attended by about 35 seniors.

Kuemmerle is excited about the programs at the senior centers.

“We bring information to senior residents to help them stay healthy as they age, focusing on things that are easy and accessible,” she said. “The seniors participating are also encouraged to share ideas as the program works to foster socialization — an important component of overall wellness.”

The program also teaches the importance of self-care and provides food safety tips, importance of maintaining bone health and more.

Chris Zellers, FCHS educator, oversees FCHS programs in the county. Zellers and Kuemmerle work together to educate the community on wellness, nutrition and fitness. Zellers has extensive experience collaborating with partners to create healthy food environments in the areas of policy, systems and environmental change. 

In addition to community health policies, FCHS educates residents on topics to improve their overall health and prevent chronic diseases with a holistic approach to a well-lived quality lifestyle that includes physical activity, a nutrient-dense diet and restful sleep. For more information. call (609) 465-5115, ext. 3609 or visit capemaynjaes.rutgers.edu.

This article first appeared in the Cape May Star and Wave.

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