I work to strengthen connections between MSU Extension, Michigan 4-H, and the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE). My efforts focus on linking Extension program needs with graduate student expertise to create mutually beneficial research and outreach opportunities.

Through these collaborations, I help design hands-on Extension experiences that allow graduate students to apply their academic training to real-world community and university challenges, in turn building both applied skills and local impact.

At the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), I contributed to the organization’s innovative impact fund, which mobilizes private and public investment for inclusive rural development. My work involved preparing analytical reports and applied knowledge products to guide governments, development agencies, and farmer organizations on agricultural finance, strategic planning, and value-chain resilience.

As part of Tanzania’s MIVARF program, I collaborated with national and district-level Ministry of Agriculture officials to assess challenges and opportunities within sunflower value chains. I conducted interviews with producers, processors, and traders to identify bottlenecks and develop holistic recommendations for improving supply-chain coordination.

Fieldwork in key production districts allowed me to build relationships with local governments and producer groups, ensuring that all policy and program recommendations were firmly grounded in local realities.