Crop Soil, & Environmental Science, Bumpers College

CSES home page > CSES Alumni and Friends

CSES Alumni and Friends

Check out the composition of the CSES Alumni and Friends Committee.
Outstanding Alumni

What our alumni say about CSES...
"Being a student in the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences has enabled me to conduct undergraduate research as well as land a great internship." Eastin Jordan B.S. in Crop Management, 2000

"I choose to study agronomy because it was a science-related field. I also enjoy working outside and problem solving in the field. Soil fertility was my favorite class. It was the first time chemistry made sense to me." Blair Griffin County Extension Agent – Johnson County, University of Arkansas Extension Service B.S. in Agronomy, 1984

Hear what Cecilia Roark has to say about her time spent with CSES. (Click on image when it appears to start video.	"While I was at the University I had the opportunity to work with a retired soil scientist who had worked with the Soil Conservation Service. We talked about his career, and he got me interested in their mission and what they are trying to accomplish, and I became interested in conserving natural resources. The Soil Conservation Service gave me that opportunity. I get to work outside and have lots of freedom and flexibility. In addition to the agencies' previous mission of conserving soil erosion, I assist landowners with water quality concerns as it relates to animal waste. I spend a major part of my time working with poultry producers on water quality issues as it relates to their poultry operations." Cecilia Roark District Conservationist for Bradley and Calhoun Counties USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service B.S. in Agronomy, 1985
"I was a zoology major, but felt the job potential wasn't that great. My roommate was an ag major and encouraged me to consider a major in Bumpers College. "Now I work with producers and get a lot of satisfaction from working with people who appreciate the job you do. "I thought it was an excellent program with lots of interaction with professors and research experience. When you work with the Extension Service, you get asked any number of questions and have to be capable of knowing where to get answers. You can start off as county agent and move up to staff chairman position or get your doctorate degree and become a specialist. If your goal in life is making money, this is probably not the job for you. But if you like working with people, this is a good career to undertake." Eugene Terhune County Extension Agronomist - Cotton University of Arkansas Extension Service B.S. in Agronomy, 1979; M.S. 1984 "I moved to Alaska after graduation, not really thinking I'd be able to land my dream job as an Environmental Scientist. What I found is that my degree is kind of rare in the schools up here but highly sought after with the large amount of environmental opportunities. I honestly didn't know how I would relate Arkansas issues to Alaska, but the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department at the U of A gave me the strong foundation I needed to understand the basics of any environmental problem. I had no work experience in the field and was fresh out of college, so that was another concern, but Jacobs Engineering Group gave me all the training and experience I needed to build me up. Now I am employed with one of the world's largest environmental consultants and have opened up my doors to almost any other related job I could ever want!" Chris Franke Environmental Specialist I Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Federal Operations Division Anchorage, Alaska B.S. in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science, 2005
"My degree in the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences not only provided me with scientific knowledge through courses and research, but also taught me practical communication skills needed to succeed in my job." Katie Teague Water Quality Projects Coordinator University of Arkansas Extension Service Fayetteville, Ark. B.S. in Environmental Soil, and Water Science, 1991, M.S. 1996

	"I am originally from Pine Bluff, Ark., and my experience at the University of Arkansas changed my life. I had the opportunity to complete the Walt Disney World College Program in Orlando, Florida, and to travel to Spain and Mexico. As a crop management student I also had the unique experience of working on an undergraduate research project in tissue culture doing transformations with tobacco. I received a degree in Crop Management 2001. In July 2002, I began working for USDA-Agriculture Research Service-Plant Genetics Research Conservation Unit. I work with warm season grasses including bamboo. With my Crop Management degree I obtained a job with USDA in Atlanta, Ga. The classroom work paired with the hands-on experience helps me everyday. Identifying pests, problem solving skills,and just basic knowledge of plants has helped to be successful as a Agriculture Research Science Technician." Libbie Hudson Agriculture Research Technician-Warm Season Grasses/Bamboo USDA-ARS-Plant Genetics Resource Conservation Unit B.S. in Crop Management, 2001