Division of Applied Social Sciences ⋅ Page 2

Letting Rural America Shine

CAFNR Alumnus and new Executive Director of the Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council Maria Kuhns is passionate about making rural Missouri a place to live, work, and thrive

“The reason I picked Mizzou is that it felt so down to Earth,” Maria Kuhns said. “CAFNR felt like they were all humble folks. “It was very understated. I felt very nurtured and so it made a lot of sense to me to choose Mizzou. And I think I needed a little push out of my comfort zone and a…

Past and Present CAFNR Students Learn and Grow at the Missouri State Fair

Since 1901, the Missouri State Fair has been ‘Where Traditions Grow,’ and CAFNR students have also grown their skills and network at the yearly ‘ag family reunion’

The fairgrounds in Sedalia become a summer home to youth livestock exhibitors, agriculture education teachers, and agriculture industry professionals for 11 days each year. For many Missouri State Fair participants, CAFNR also has been a part of their life and their fair experience both inside and outside of the Mizzou Central building. For Clint Bailey, rising senior majoring in agriculture…

More than Math: Financial Planning Academy 2023

Mizzou’s second class of Financial Planning Academy students learned valuable teamwork, personal and professional skills to foster their careers helping others succeed financially

Financial Planning Academy was held July 16-21 in partnership with Texas Tech University and the Charles Schwab Foundation. This collaboration between CAFNR and the Trulaske College of Business invited 17 rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to explore careers in personal financial planning through teamwork and personal development. This camp prepares students to approach finances through their client’s personal lens, rather…

CAFNR Graduate Student Named One of First Remington R. Williams Award Winners

Rishabh Mahendra, a doctoral student in Agriculture and Applied Economics, was named one of the first seven recipients of the Remington R. Williams Award by the University of Missouri Board of Curators. In honor of Remington R. Williams, student representative to the UM Board of Curators from 2020 until his death in June 2022, the award recognizes exceptional student leaders…

CAFNR Students Tapped for Honor Societies

CAFNR students took part in induction ceremonies for Mizzou honor societies April 28 as part of 2023 Tap Day. Inducted were: Andres Mesa (center), doctoral student in rural sociology, Rollins Society Trillion Rosborough (left), senior in animal sciences, and Kathryn Wenger (right), senior in biochemistry, Omicron Delta Kappa Tap Day is a tradition dating back to 1917, where small groups of…

CAFNR Students Named Gilman Scholars

Allyson Sampson, senior in animal sciences; Dylan Stover, senior in agribusiness management and plant sciences; and Feather Teghtmeyer, senior in natural resource science and management; have received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The competitive national scholarship provides $3,000-$5,000 to study or intern abroad. Teghtmeyer is using the…

CAFNR Senior Spotlight – Kelly Gillespie

Gillespie is a senior graduating in May with a degree in hospitality management

Why did you choose to come to the University of Missouri? All my life, it was a given to my family that I was going to go to Mizzou. To be completely honest, however, Mizzou was not my first choice when looking at colleges. I went all around to 6 other colleges because I thought even though Mizzou and CAFNR…

Amanda Alexander Received Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Award as Part of 2023 Celebration of Excellence  

Amanda Alexander, associate teaching professor, Division of Applied Social Sciences, was named the Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor during the 2023 Celebration of Excellence event, held Tuesday, April 11.     Alexander teaches hospitality management courses at all undergraduate levels, from the intro course up to the senior capstone course. Additionally, she advises an average of 32 undergraduate students per semester, as well as…

Hailey Schepers Received Outstanding Senior Award as Part of 2023 Celebration of Excellence 

Hailey Schepers, an agribusiness management major, was named Outstanding Senior at CAFNR’s 2023 Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony, held Tuesday, April 11.   Schepers has had a variety of hands-on learning experiences throughout her time as a Tiger. She is the president of Sigma Alpha, where she leads more than 60 members and assists the executive officer team in completing a…

Grant Norfleet Received Outstanding Junior Award as Part of 2023 Celebration of Excellence 

Grant Norfleet, an agricultural education major, was named Outstanding Junior at CAFNR’s 2023 Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony, held Tuesday, April 11.   Norfleet, who is also completing a minor in both agribusiness management and digital storytelling, has taken on numerous leadership roles in CAFNR. He is currently a CAFNR Ambassador, where he serves as president, and discusses all that the…