2014 Wallace-Carver Fellows

Binghamton High School

NOSA AKOL

Placement: ARS Robert W. Holley Research Center – Ithaca, NY

“Working in a pest management facility has taught me to see certain aspects of my life completely different.”

University of Minnesota

JESSICA BLOSBERG

Placement: ARS Plant Science Research Unit – St. Paul, MN

“Working for the USDA has been exciting as I am learning what it means to be a plant disease researcher.”

Rowan University

JORDAN COUGHLIN

Placement: ARS Plant Science Research Unit – Raleigh, NC

“This internship has paved the way for a bright future and I plan to fully utilize it to make this world a better place.”

Virginia Tech University

LINDSAY DEMERS

Placement: ARS Vegetable Laboratory – Charleston, SC

“I can’t express what it’s like to wake up feeling like I’m saving the world or to be so overwhelmingly inspired.”

Brown University

LUCY DUAN

Placement: ARS Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging – Boston, MA

“The lessons I have learned through my experiences have given me a tenacious passion for making a real difference.”

Iowa State University

ALI IBRAHIM ELSADIQ

Placement: ARS Plant Science Research Unit – Raleigh, NC

“I feel so fortunate for this opportunity to follow my passion while also making a difference in the world.”

University of Texas – Dallas

CAITLYNN FORTNER

Placement: ARS National Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Dates – Riverside, CA

“I have enjoyed the Program because of the science I am learning, but even more so for the people I am meeting.”

University of Pennsylvania

ZIXUAN “YEN YEN” GAO

Placement: Office of the Secretary – Washington, DC

“This opportunity allowed me to gain insight into the pivotal role of agriculture and acquire invaluable skills.”

Rice University

RIVKAH GARDNER-FROLICK

Placement: ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment – Ames, IA

“Working with world-class scientists has been energizing and reinforced my commitment to a career in science.”

University of Minnesota

BRANDON HANSON

Placement: ARS National Animal Disease Center – Ames, IA

“Working for the USDA has been such a blessing in getting amazing experience in a research setting.”

Southeastern University

BROOK HOOVER

Placement: ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiological Research – Baton Rouge, LA

“I have the honor of working under terrific scientists at a bee research center on colony collapse disorder.”

College of Southern Idaho

QUINN INWARDS

Placement: ARS Northwest Watershed Research Center – Boise, ID

“This has been an amazing experience getting to work with great people and some of the world’s top scientists.”

Mahtomedi High School

JEROME JACOBSEN

Placement: ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center – Clay Center, NE

“The WC Fellowship has given me the chance to meet phenomenal, influential people working to improve the world.”

Millard West High School

ROHAN KANDEL

Placement: ARS Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit – Lincoln, NE

“I’ve learned that no matter your age, there are always possibilities present to change the lives of millions.”

Princeton University

DOWON KIM

Placement: Office of the Secretary – Washington, DC

“Working at the USDA has shown me the profound yet overlooked impact of agriculture on lives around the globe.”

St. Louis University

SARAH KUNCH

Placement: Food Safety and Inspection Service – Washington, DC

“I realized the importance of food safety and the effect that USDA has on the lives of every American” 

Pennsylvania State University

LUCY LAGOZE

Placement: ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management – University Park, PA

“Working with the USDA-ARS has provided me with invaluable experience that will help guide me in the future.”

Des Moines Area Community College

DAKOTA LYDDON

Placement: ARS Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit – Ames, IA

“I will walk away with knowledge for the future, and an unmatched experience working alongside great people.”

Wheaton College

SEAN LYON

Placement: Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory – Poplarville, MS

“WC fellowship has shown me what our responsibilities are as humans to make an impact on the world for the better.”

University of Arkansas

VICTORIA MALOCH

Placement: Office of the Secretary- Washington, DC

“It has been a privilege to work alongside Secretary Vilsack’s team shaping the message of the USDA.”

Northwestern University

TARA MITTELBERG

Placement: ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory – Oxford, MS

“Working with the ARS  has given me an amazing opportunity to fight food insecurity.”

St. Louis University

GRETCHEN MOHR

Placement: National Agricultural Statistics Service

“The WC Fellowship has inspired me to follow my passion and challenge me to work harder every day.”

University of Minnesota

TESSA RIES

Placement: ARS U.S. Salinity  Laboratory – Riverside, CA

“It is eye-opening and exhilarating to be part of a research team that aims to make a difference.”

American University

SOPHIE ROBISON

Placement: Foreign Agricultural Service – Washington, DC

“Being a Wallace-Carver Fellow has taught me what it really means to be a hunger fighter.”

Ohio State University

ELIZABETH ROCHE

Placement: ARS U.S. National Arboretum, Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit – Washington, DC

“I am thankful I am able to research solutions to real world problems in agriculture and do something I love.”

College of William and Mary

DOMINIQUE ROWINSKI

Placement: Office of the Secretary – Washington, DC

“It has been enlightening to be part of the implementation of various White House initiatives.”

Grinnell College

PEARL SAWHNEY

Placement: ARS National Animal Disease Center – Ames, IA

“I have learned so many new scientific techniques and been able to apply knowledge from classes I have taken.”

Purdue University

CAROLINE SHERLOW

Placement: ARS Crop Protection and Pest Control – West Lafayette, IN

“The WC Fellowship is an invaluable opportunity I hope to someday use to make an impact in the world.”

Washington University

JACOB SOLAWETZ

Placement: Economic Research Service – Washington, DC

“I have been a part of large-scale economic research that has had a direct impact on policy decisions.”

North Springs Charter High School

VERONICA SONDERVAN

Placement: ARS Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research Unit – Fort Collins, CO

“I have had such an amazing experience working with one of the largest gene banks in the world!”

Grinnell College

ANTHONY WENNDT

Placement: ARS Crops Pathology and Genetics Research – Davis, CA

“The world-changing insights I have gained have truly made a lasting impact on the science I undertake.”

University of North Carolina

COLE WILHELMI

Placement: ARS Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit – Hilo, HI

University of California – Berkeley

NICOLE WONG

Placement: ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center – Davis, CA

“Being a WC Fellow has renewed my enthusiasm to learn and put everything I have into my research.”