Oklahoma State Master of International Agriculture Program

Welcome back, MIAP! We are so excited for the first day of the fall semester! Our doors are always open in Ag Hall 545!

New week, new adventures: Time to celebrate another Spring 2023 MIAP graduate! Cole Spain traveled to Zimbabwe and India for his international experiences. He is now the Regional Manager of Product Services in Iowa for the National Pork Producers Council. Congratulations, Cole!

Since coming to OSU, former Texas FFA member Rylan Jordan has embraced leadership within the Ferguson College through student organizations and service opportunities. As a Ferguson College Ambassador, he enjoys sharing about the Ferguson Family with prospective students, especially current FFA members.

Stop by booths 9142 and 9143 to meet some of the members of our Ferguson College Ambassador team!

New Week, New Adventures!

As we continue to celebrate our graduates, we would like to congratulate Kelli Wicks! Kelli is now working for the National Pork Board as the Manager of International Market Development. Kelli encourages future MIAP students to come in with an open mind.

New Week, New Adventures:

This week join us in congratulating MIAP graduate, Elizabeth Jones. Liz is continuing her international travels in Ghana as part of the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program. We are so glad Liz enjoyed her time in the MIAP program!

New Week, New Adventures

This week's graduate spotlight is Rilea Robinson. Rilea is currently visiting family in Germany and hopes that future MIAP students "choose the wild international experience." We wish you the best Rilea!

A new week calls for sharing new adventures.

The end of the semester means students are graduating and moving onto new adventures. We want to continue to celebrate our recent graduates by sharing where they are now as well as looking back at their time within our program. Keep on the look out throughout the summer as we share our graduates.

Our first graduate is Lacey Desserault. Lacey was a graduate assistant in our office while she was here. She is now a communications coordinator at Washington State University Tri-Cities. Congratulations, Lacey! Best of luck to you!

On Friday, we celebrated 13 MIAP graduates! We are so proud of their accomplishments and cannot wait to see where they go 🧡

MIAP student Cole Spain spent March and April working with the International Livestock Research Insitute and Matopos Research Institute in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He assisted the ILRI and MRI research staff with stakeholder meetings regarding pasture and rangeland management in Matabeleland South province. If you have any questions about his recent experience, send us a DM!

Last week, some of the MIAP students got together for a cook-off! The main task included utilizing blueberries in each of the dishes, and each one was a success.

For the last two months, MIAP student Liz Jones has worked with the International Livestock Research Institute in Vietnam. She has been the organization's communications fellow for the East and Southeast Asia region. If you would like to know more about Liz's international experience, send us a DM!

Earlier this semester, MIAP student Rilea Robinson and Dr. Karl Rich spent some time in Uganda researching the dairy value chain, funded by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). If you would like to know more about this research or traveling to Uganda, send us a DM!

At the beginning of February, MIAP student McKenzie McCaleb traveled to Washington DC to advocate with the Native Farm Bill Coalition. During the trip, they spoke directly with Congressional offices to discuss Indian County's priorities in the upcoming Farm Bill. McKenzie had the opportunity to advocate alongside several tribal leaders and other tribal youth who are dedicated to the future development of Native American agriculture. If you would like to talk about McKenzie's inspiring experience in more detail, send us a DM!

Last semester, MIAP student Catherine Coleman spent some time in Hanoi, Vietnam working for ILRI. Her job involved updating value chain report writing in the Sonla province. If you have any questions about her international experience or are interested in Vietnam, send us a DM!

This weekend we celebrate three MIAP graduates! We are proud of all of their hard work and dedication. Go Pokes! 🧡🎓

We hope you had a great fall semester, and are looking forward to a well-deserved holiday break!

Our office will be closed over the break, but if you have any pressing questions or concerns you can send an email to Pam Bay.

Happy Holidays, and we look forward to seeing you in January for spring semester!

For this week’s Travel Tuesday, we have Nicholas Tchan, who went to Jamaica over the summer to research the Jamaican mango industry! 🇯🇲🥭

If you would like to know more about Nicholas’ experience or about international travel to Jamaica, send us a message!

Today’s Travel Tuesday features Catherine Coleman, who spent time in Mexico under the dual degree program with UPAEP! With this program, she will be receiving two degrees for the price and time of one. 🇲🇽

If you would like to know more about our dual degree programs, send us a DM!

Would you like to earn two degrees for the price (and time!) of one? Then look no further than our dual degree programs!

Our university partnerships with the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, and Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) provide amazing opportunities to expand learning and cultural experiences in a new setting. 🇦🇿🇲🇽

If you would like to know more, visit our website, stop by our office, or send us an email to learn more! 🌎

Today’s Travel Tuesday features McKenzie McCaleb, who traveled to Sierra Leone, West Africa this summer! Her international experience involved working on a local farm. 🇸🇱

If you are interested in McKenzie’s work or would like to know more about traveling to Sierra Leone, reach out to us! 🌎

Exciting announcement! The SOIA Instagram has a new home! 🎉

Be sure to follow SOIA for the latest updates. The officer team has a ton of fun activities for the upcoming semester and school year!

Last weekend's tailgate was a success! It was so fun seeing both new and familiar faces.

If you were not able to attend the tailgate, do not worry! We will be having more social events throughout the semester. Keep an eye on our social media pages for info! Go Pokes! 🤠

MIAP has some exciting additions in the digital world! 🌎 Our Instagram is now , and our Twitter and LinkedIn are now live! Be sure to follow us on all platforms to stay up-to-date on the latest program info and upcoming events. 🤠

(The SOIA Instagram will be moving to a different account that is in the works, so stay tuned!)

On today’s Travel Tuesday we have Lacey Desserault who spent the summer in Prague! Her experience surrounded community gardens and the communication methods they use to reach the public.

If you would like to know more about Lacey’s experience or have any questions about international travel, send us an email or DM! 🧡🤠

TODAY IS OUR SOIA/MIAP TAILGATE! Join us on International Mall Lawn from 2-4 to chill, have some good food, and get ready to cheer on OSU football! 🏈

Exciting news! 📣 MIAP is officially on LinkedIn!

We are so excited to broaden our connections with students, alumni, and organizations. Give us a follow! 🧡

This week’s Travel Tuesday highlights Cole Spain, who went to India this summer! Cole was involved in research of biological hazards in dairy chains.

If you would like to know more about traveling to India or have any questions about international experiences, feel free to stop by the office or send us an email! 🌎

Welcome to Travel Tuesday, where we are highlighting some of our outstanding MIAP students that recently went on their international experiences. 🌎

First up we have Blaire Moore, who spent some time in Senegal working with ILRI. If you are interested in her project or you would like to know more about traveling to Senegal, reach out to the MIAP office! 🇸🇳

Happy first day of classes! We can’t wait to start the year off strong! 🧡

We are so excited to welcome our new students, both in-person and online. Each student brings a plethora of diverse experiences and backgrounds that we are thrilled to get to know over the next year.

Please don’t hesitate to visit us in 545 AGH or reach out to us by email if you ever have any questions!

A warm, Cowboy welcome to all MIAP students! We hope you are just as excited as we are about a new school year. 🤠

MIAP Orientation is tomorrow, August 19 at 11 am on Zoom for both in person and online new students! If you haven’t received a link in your email yet, please reach out to the MIAP office. For those students in person, new or not, we will be having lunch afterwards at Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater at noon!

If you are in need of a place to join the Zoom, the MIAP office will be open with several desks to use, located in 545 AGH.

Go Pokes! 🧡

Next Monday we invite current students and alumni to join us for a group photo on the steps of Ag Hall at 11:00 a.m. We hope to see you there! 🤠

We have multiple students completing their international experiences this summer. Hear from one who has been working in Dakar, Senegal for the last few weeks – Blaire Moore!

"I am currently working with the International Livestock Research Institute in Dakar, Senegal. I, a veterinarian and geographical economist from ISRA (Institut Sènègalais de Recherches Agricoles, or Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research), have been writing and editing a questionnaire paired with physical hypothetical vaccine combination cards to collect data related to producers' willingness to vaccinate and willingness to pay for the PPR vaccine, from smaller ruminant livestock producers in Northern Senegal.

We have eight different hypothetical vaccine combinations with three different options per vaccine combination. Various options for each vaccine combination differ in price, location of vaccination, thermolabile vs. thermotolerant vaccines, etc. These hypothetical vaccine combinations help us better understand why small ruminant producers choose to vaccinate or not vaccinate against PPR.

We have just recently completed our data collection in four different villages near Linguere; we visited with government representatives within each village and the head veterinarian for the area. While in Linguère, we worked with staff at AVSF (Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières) to finalize survey questions and translate everything from French to Wolof. AVSF is an international association that works to support smallholder farming. Having the opportunity to work with multiple international agricultural-focused organizations has been incredible!

The opportunity to visit with various authorities, farmers, and people in different villages were amazing. Everyone we met was welcoming and generous. Local veterinarians gave great insight into livestock producers' problems and things that worked well or were not working for producers. There was a political aspect within each commune that I hadn't expected but played an interesting role in how producers could or couldn't raise their livestock.

I definitely wouldn't have been able to have this fantastic experience without translation from the vet and economist I've been working with; they helped me better understand why things were or weren't done with livestock, cultural differences from commune to commune, what farmers were saying, and much more. Overall, this experience has been incredible thus far, and I have Dr. Rich and the MIAP program to thank for this life-changing experience."

We are proud to have a diverse group of alumni whose tenacity and drive does not go unnoticed! Join us in congratulating a few of our recent MIAP graduates who represent our program and the across the globe 🤠 🧡

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to honor and celebrate our Spring 2022 graduates!

The MIAP program had 9 grads with varying experiences and specializations. We are so proud of what they have accomplished and cannot wait to see them succeed in the future!

Remember, once a Cowboy, always a Cowboy. OSU, MIAP, and the entire will always be here to welcome you back home. 🧡🎓

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today we recognize the amazing Pam Bay, our program coordinator. Thank you Pam for all that you do for the program and students! 🧡🌟

MIAP now has t-shirts! 🌎🧡
Sales are active now and will end Sunday, May 15. Any student or alumni can order from this link:
https://okstatemiap22.itemorder.com/

⭐️ If you are in Stillwater, you can pick your shirt up for free from Dupree's at 316 S Washington Street (on the strip).
⭐️ If you are in the U.S. but not Stillwater, you can have your t-shirt shipped to you.
⭐️ If you are already out of the country or will be soon but still want to purchase a shirt, feel free to do so! Reach out to us and we can put it in the MIAP office so you can pick it up when you return. Dupree's recommends not shipping it to yourself overseas due to the additional costs and potential for the package getting lost.

Send us a message if you have any questions!

Springtime means a new officer team! From L to R: Cole Spain (treasurer), Lacey Desserault (PR Chair), Kelli Wicks (President), Catherine Coleman (Secretary), and Hailey Rose Viars (Vice President). We are so thankful for the hard work of our past officers Kelli, Blaire, and Lacey (second picture) and wish Blaire the best of luck as she graduates!

Earlier today, our President Kelli and Treasurer Cole were interviewed by Ag Communications students for a class project to learn more about SOIA! We love getting to work with undergraduate students in the Ferguson College of Agriculture to help them learn more about our organization.