UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Eight students from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences moved forward into their futures at the 39th Annual Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Training Conference and Career Expo, held in April in Memphis, Tennessee.
Representing one of the organization’s founding chapters, the Penn State MANRRS delegation embodied its commitment to shaping the future of agriculture, natural resources and environmental science.
The national conference brought together students, professionals and industry leaders for a dynamic week of professional development, career exploration and community building. Through hands-on learning, mentorship and engaging dialogue, students sharpened their skills and expanded their professional networks.
MANRRS, a national professional organization, is committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders and professionals in agriculture and environmental sciences, especially those historically underrepresented in these sectors. Penn State stands proudly as one of its founding chapters — alongside Michigan State — said Laura Leites, College of Agricultural Sciences assistant dean for access and equity.
The Penn State chapter continues to cultivate excellence, according to Milton Newberry III, director of student advocacy and access programs and chapter adviser. He noted that two students attending the event received merit-based scholarships — the Ferrara Scholarship and the Lucille Terrell Scholarship — from the College of Agricultural Sciences.
The experience was further enriched by the generosity of an anonymous donor, who helped offset travel costs for all participants, Newberry said.
Guided by Newberry, students engaged directly with more than 80 companies and institutions at the career expo — gaining invaluable experience in navigating professional spaces and communicating their goals.
“Several of my students would not have imagined speaking with representatives from companies such as Merck, Zoetis and Land O’ Lakes before joining MANRRS,” Newberry said. “Now, they feel empowered to connect and pursue the opportunities offered by these companies.”
First-year student Miri Almodovar-Alamo, studying veterinary and biomedical sciences, reflected on the confidence gained from those real-world interactions.
“Since this was my second career expo, I was nervous about talking with people who have been in the field,” Almodovar-Alamo said. “Having my adviser and my peers around me provided confidence and allowed me to focus on networking and learning about different careers.”
Almodovar-Alamo and Aniayah Coleman, a student majoring in agricultural science, were able to talk with keynote speaker Kemba Marshall, a practicing veterinarian and advocate for inclusion in veterinary medicine.
“Being able to speak with Dr. Marshall after hearing her story and journey on becoming a veterinarian and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion in the veterinary medicine field was inspiring,” Coleman said. “This conference helped me better understand myself and how to advocate for myself effectively.”
Student success stories continue to unfold beyond the event. One student secured a summer 2025 research internship at the University of Florida by building relationships at the conference. Another student earned the Cargill Thrive Scholarship, a competitive award that offers financial support, mentorship and career coaching.
Additionally, one Penn State student was accepted into the 2024–2025 Animal Health and Care Academy, a distinguished program that prepares students for careers in animal health and welfare through mentorship, networking, and access to exclusive internship and job opportunities.
“It brings me great joy to see my students come out of their shells and take full advantage of professional development and career opportunities at the MANRRS regional and national conferences,” Newberry said.
Leites added that these students represent the future of the agriculture and natural resources sectors. “We are in good hands,” she said.