�� - CALS senior award

Growing up in the small, rural community of Ryan, Iowa, Grace Reiss knew she wanted to gain international experience while in college. She has met that goal, and along the way, her outgoing and friendly personality has fostered a welcoming environment at Iowa State University and around the world.

Those efforts earned her the fall 2023 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Council Inclusive Excellence Award.

A double major in nutritional science and global resource systems, Reiss came to Iowa State intending to find ways to fight global hunger and malnutrition.

Her first international experience was a two week-long study abroad trip to The Netherlands and Uganda during her freshman year. The students on the trip visited farms and learned about both countries’ nutrition programs and water management systems.

“That trip changed me for the better, and it was great to travel with other students in the global resource systems major,” Reiss said. “It opened my eyes to the fact that I have so much more to learn about myself and the world.”

Adding to her international travel resume, Reiss spent the spring 2022 semester on a study abroad exchange program in Greece. She attended classes at the American Farm School, Perrotis College, learning about global food systems and sustainable agriculture. Reiss appreciated getting to know the food science professors and building a community with fellow students and other people she met.

While in Greece, she became interested in the Mediterranean diet. That became the topic of her senior capstone research project for her GRS major. She compared how individuals in the U.S. and Greece adhere to the diet and health outcomes that may result from following it.

“Grace’s commitment to fighting hunger and promoting nutrition security and health reaches beyond her academic obligations and motivated this undergraduate international research project, which indeed, reflects CALS’ mission to enhance quality of life in Iowa and around the world,” wrote Catherine Swoboda, associate teaching professor in global resource systems, in a letter of support for Reiss’ nomination for the Inclusive Excellence Award.

In addition to spending time abroad, Reiss participated in several leadership opportunities on campus, including the President’s Leadership Class, Cargill Leadership Academy and GLOBE Leadership Fellows. She co-led first- and second-year GRS students in the GLOBE Leadership Fellows program, providing them guidance, connecting them with resources and helping them grow as leaders.

“Our GRS students are so engaged in learning and developing their own leadership skills thanks to Grace and her engaging instruction,” Swoboda wrote.

Reiss is grateful for all the encouragement and support she has received from the Iowa State community – from faculty to advisors to classmates. She advises other students to find and establish their own support system and know they belong on campus.

“Try not to fall into imposter syndrome,” Reiss said. “You are meant to be where you are at.”

Original story posted, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/2023/international-experiences-changed....

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‘Aha moment’ for future career path came during international experience

nicolerh — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:29:08 +0000

By Whitney Baxter

Getting out of her comfort zone enabled Payten Watson to gain new perspectives beyond her area of study.

Watson, a senior in food science from Urbandale, Iowa, has been selected as the fall 2022 semester College of Agriculture and Life Sciences student marshal. She will lead fellow graduates as they enter Hilton Coliseum during Iowa State University’s undergraduate commencement ceremony Dec. 17, at 1:30 p.m. She will be escorted by Lee Burras, Morrill Professor of agronomy.

A first-generation college student and the daughter of a single mother, Watson knew a college degree would open many opportunities for her, including chances to travel the world.

She worked hard in high school, earning 44 college credits to jump-start her associate degree at Des Moines Area Community College. While at DMACC, she was accepted into the honors program and took leadership and team-building courses that would prove beneficial as she transferred to Iowa State during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With many classes still held online during the fall 2020 semester, Watson focused on getting to know people. She became involved at Iowa State as much as possible, using those leadership and team-building skills.

One of the connections she made was with fellow transfer student Sarah Mattingly, a senior in food science. Mattingly introduced Watson to two student organizations she could join to help people and use her food science expertise: Engineers Without Borders, where Watson helped design pit latrines for a medical clinic in Ullo, Ghana, and Good Earth Student Farm, where she harvested vegetables for Iowa State’s food pantry, the SHOP.

“Gaining these hands-on experiences has helped shape Payten into a more critical thinker, as well as given her practical understanding of how to grow and harvest vegetables and herbs,” Mattingly said. “These are all invaluable experiences for anyone wanting to go into the non-profit side of food to help them better address sustainable development needs.”

Watson’s first opportunity to travel the world led to a memorable “aha moment” about what she wanted to do with her degree. During her GLOBE 201: Introduction to Global Resource Systems class, she learned about the ISU-Uganda Program and opportunities to use food science to tackle global food and climate change challenges.

“I saw how people were using food science in a more applied way than just taking the industry route,” Watson said. “I realized I could take the skills I’m learning at Iowa State and use them to help people.”

Last summer, she traveled to Uganda with Burras and others to participate in the ISU-Uganda Program, which led to her current youth programming and education internship with the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines.

Thinking about the benefits these student organizations and study abroad experiences have provided, Watson encourages fellow students to try new opportunities outside their area of study, even if they may not feel qualified for them.

“You grow by being uncomfortable. Be comfortable enough to get out of your comfort zone and try something new,” Watson said.

She also encourages students to advocate for themselves and not be afraid to ask their professors for assistance if they struggle to understand a concept presented in class.

“I always encourage students to come before or after class for clarification. Payten was one of the students that took part in the opportunity,” said Shannon Coleman, associate professor of food science and human nutrition. “She would always come with pre-written questions. She was also not afraid to come back for clarification. That is a trait that will take her far in her career.”

After graduation, Watson will continue her World Food Prize Foundation internship. She aspires to combine her passions for food science and helping people into a career that involves working with youth.

_{Original story posted, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2022/aha-moment-future-career-path...}

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