Center for International Programs
Andrew Bryant
Andrew is from Nashville, Tennessee. He recently graduated from Tennessee State University where he majored in Agricultural Business. Andrew is an intern at the Center for International Programs where his day-to-day tasks consist of reviewing projects and researching grantee progress. He hopes to learn about the international side of agriculture and NIFA’s role in international relations. Andrew enjoys writing and hiking in addition to watching Breaking Bad and documentaries on National Geographic.
Justice Ramos
Justice is from Phoenix, Arizona. She recently graduated from Arizona State University where she majored in Earth and Environmental Studies. Justice is an intern in the Center for International Programs where her day-to-day tasks consist of reviewing RFAs. She hopes to learn about the different opportunities to connect agriculture with international affairs, in addition to developing her network at NIFA. Justice enjoys watching the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks as well as catching episodes of the Bachelor and taking walks around the D.C. area.
Division of Community and Education
Rose Quispe
Rose was born in Lima, Peru and was raised in the Washington, area. She recently graduated from Bucknell University and will begin graduate school this fall to work towards master’s in International Affairs. Rose is an intern in the Division of Community and Education where her day-to-day tasks consist of reading through grants and impacts as she prepares Power Point presentations for NIFA panels. She hopes to meet people on a similar career path as her and build connections within the NIFA network. Rose is excited to support the Peruvian National team in this year’s World Cup and enjoys watching the Netflix show One Day at a Time.
Luis Ramirez
Luis is from El Paso, Texas. He is attending the University of Texas-El Paso for his master’s in Industrial Engineering. Luis is an intern in the Division of Community and Education where his day-to-day tasks consist of researching different Tribal and Hispanic serving institutions to determine how NIFA can better assist them. He hopes to learn more about NIFA’s ability to help other institutions and use this experience to gain insight into writing his own grants proposals in the future. Luis is a Real Madrid fan and enjoys watching soccer and How I Met Your Mother.
Division of Youth and 4-H
Kristin Brooks
Kristin completed her BS in geography with a minor in biology at the University of North Texas in 2016. She currently serves as a member of the Health and Medical Geography Research Group at the University of North Texas and is working toward completing her MS in Geography with a focus on spatial data infrastructures. In Texas, she teaches an introductory to geographic information systems labs. She holds a position as a graduate student board member for the American Association of Geographers Health and Medical Geography Specialty Group. This experience has given her a deep appreciation for conducting research and helping others learn. Brooks intends to continue her graduate studies in a Ph.D. program that combines geospatial approaches with information science. In her free time she enjoys running, tennis, and movies.
Rebecca Hunter
Rebecca completed her BA in History at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2016. She is working on her master’s in Health Promotion at George Washington University, with a focus on adolescent health and health disparities. During her time at UCF, she worked as an archivist preserving and maintaining historical documents for the GLBT History Museum of Central Florida and Greater Baptist Church of Central Florida. She also volunteers with the DC Teen Promise Project and formerly served as a National Park Service Park Ranger at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. These endeavors have driven her interest in children’s health. Upon completion of her master’s degree, she intends to continue public service as a Peace Corps member and attend physician’s assistant school. In her free time she enjoys cooking, movie nights, and board games.
Cedrick Morales, II
Cedrick is a junior at Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, majoring in Agricultural Sciences with a dual concentration in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Cedrick was active in Louisiana 4-H programs throughout his elementary, middle, and high school years, and is a returning 3rd-year student intern in the Division of Youth and 4-H. Cedrick is serving a second term as a Southern University Student Government Association Senator for the Class of 2020. In addition, he is a member of The Collegiate 100 of Southern University, Dolores Margaret Richards Spikes Honors College, Beta Kappa Chi National Scientific Honor Society, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, Southern University Honor Students Association, and SU LEADS Certified Student Leader. Upon earning his BS degrees, Cedrick plans to earn an MS in Agricultural Economics and later complete a dual degree program earning a Master of Public Administration and Juris Doctorate.
Jordan Lawrence
Jordan is a junior at New York University (NYU) studying Media, Culture, and Communication. Jordan is a career ambassador at NYU’s Wasserman Center for Development. In the fall, she will serve as a resident assistant for one of NYU’s residence halls. Previously, Jordan has not only assisted in the production of PBS’ American Graduate Day, she has also helped to coordinate and plan the latest E-Academy in 2017. Although Jordan is still trying to determine her career path, she is interested in TV production, broadcast journalism, and marketing (specifically via digital analytics). In her free time, Jordan likes to travel, read, and curate music playlists.
Herbert Umanzor
Herbert attended Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Maryland, and graduated in 2016. Herbert is currently a junior at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. He is majoring in mass communications with a dual track in advertising and public relations. Herbert is the second person in his immediate family to attend high school and is a first-generation college student. This past semester he was initiated as a member of Tau Sigma, an academic honor society on campus. Herbert is also an active member of the Latino Student Organization on campus. From the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) internship program, Herbert plans to have a better understanding on what he would like to do as a career. In his free time he enjoys staying active, spending time with family, and meeting new people.
Jessica Vallejo
Jessica is a USDA Pathways intern. She completed her BS in Public Health at San Diego State University (SDSU) in May of 2018. As an undergraduate, she was awarded a NIFA-funded scholarship to pursue a career related to food security, sustainability, and world hunger. At SDSU, she worked as a Research Lab Assistant in the environmental health laboratory. There she assisted in an ecological research project with the University of California (UC) Davis to test for persistent organic pollutants in Bottlenose dolphins. She also worked in a global environmental health collaboration with UC San Diego to test for banned pesticides in blood plasma samples of Ecuadorian children who work on farms. Jessica served as a community outreach coordinator for the Public Health Initiative Club, an SDSU student-ran organization that focuses on border health issues. Some of the projects she worked on include infectious and chronic disease management, food security, and rural development of Baja California. This experience has strengthened her desire to protect human health. She is currently an Environmental Health Science graduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research interests are in food toxicology, primarily testing for toxic chemicals in imported produce and fish. In her free time, Jessica enjoys running, hiking, and traveling.
Institute of Youth, Family and Community
LaToya Smith
LaToya is from Waldorf, Maryland. She is working toward her master’s from Towson University in Human Resource (HR) Development. LaToya works in the Institute of Youth, Family, and Community where her day-to-day tasks consist of conducting research on HR policies within USDA. She hopes to use this opportunity to decide on what specific area within HR she wants to work in. LaToya enjoys listening to music and is a huge Beyonce fan. When she’s is not listening to Beyonce she enjoys watching the Haves and Have Nots.
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Office of the Director
Megan Anderson
Megan is from Schellsburg, Pennsylvania. She is a senior at Penn State University, majoring in Animal Science. She hopes to pursue graduate school for Agriculture Communications. Megan works with the Office of the Director as a Congressional Affairs intern. Most of her day-to-day tasks involve conducting Farm Bill Prep and developing fact sheets for NIFA. She hopes to take advantage of networking opportunities at NIFA and looks forward to learning more about DC. Additionally, she hopes that this experience will demonstrate to others in the agriculture field that one does not need to have a background in political science in order to make an impact in the government. Megan’s favorite television shows include Shameless and the Bachelorette. She enjoys cooking, working out, and supporting her local Pittsburgh sports teams.
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Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
Lorraine Roderiguez-Bonilla
Lorraine is from Villalba, Puerto Rico. She is a Ph.D. candidate studying plant breeding and genetics. Her plan after graduation is to work at the intersection of science and public interest. Lorraine works in the Division of Food Safety where she writes impact stories of the science funded by NIFA. She also gathers educational materials funded by the agencies for web promotion. Lorraine hopes to learn more about science funding and how it varies when accounting for time and other priorities. Her major contribution to NIFA will be her work in helping to develop the impact stories showcasing the great job researchers are doing with the funding they receive from the agency. One of her favorite shows is Sense 8 on Netflix and she enjoys reading, hiking, and cooking.
Jordan Carter
Jordan is from Elk Grove, California. He has a BA in Kinesiology and is obtaining his Master’s degree in Public Health-Nutrition at George Washington University. His post-graduation plan is to finish his USDA Pathways internship and hopefully become a program specialist with NIFA. Jordan works with the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition where he focuses on the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Capacity program that works with 76 land-grant universities across the country. EFNEP objectives are food safety, food risk management, physical activity, diet quality, and food security. Jordan hopes to learn more about the land-grant university extension and capacity programs. He hopes to apply his community engagement, nonprofit experience, chronic disease prevention specialty to EFNEP. The Golden State Warriors fan enjoys playing basketball, running, swimming, traveling, and reading.
Jabari Hinton
Jabari is from Decatur, Georgia. He is food science major at Alabama A&M University and has a background in culinary arts. His plan for after graduation is to be a food scientist and work in product development so that he can use his creativity. He also wants to eventually be a restaurateur. Jabari works in the Division of Food Safety where he is producing a journal article on food safety outreach program. He hopes to learn how people can impact science and food safety. Many people don’t know the work it takes to make food accessible and Jabari wants to bring fresh ideas and a new set of eyes to NIFA given his background in culinary arts. His favorite sports team is the Atlanta Falcons and his favorite show is The Walking Dead. In his spare time Jabari likes to cook and stay active.
Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment
Ana Cram
Ana is from Juarez, Mexico. She is a Ph.D. candidate studying Environmental Science and Engineering at the University of Texas – El Paso. Her plan after graduating is to do research or something related to the scientific community, whether it is in the private sector or for the government. Ana works with the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment. She is working on a database with the most recent developments on soil and carbon sequestration. Ana hopes to learn how the government system for funding works as well as more depth about her project. Ana also wants to network with all of NIFA’s departments and to be impactful with her work. Ana’s favorite sports team is Mexico’s national soccer team. Her hobbies are biking, being close to nature, and anything that involves the outdoors.
Audrey Giese
Audrey is from Allentown, Pennsylvania. She recently completed her BS in Agroecology at West Virginia University. Her plan after graduating is to be a Fulbright scholar in India. Audrey works with the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment. She studies past projects that NIFA has funded, how they inform current research, and identify gaps in current research and how we can redirect funding. Audrey hopes to understand how the funding process works, how it informs different objectives, and what we need to conduct different studies. She wants to help with the direction of future research in agriculture. She enjoys running, hiking, biking, and all outdoor activities. Audrey also has a terrier named Lucky.
Morgan Jones
Morgan is from Baltimore, Maryland. She recently graduated from Delaware State University with a BS in Environmental Science. She plans to attend the school of law at Wayne State University. Morgan works with the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment, where she does gap analysis of the current state of the water program and desired progress. This is her fourth internship and she has gained experience in field work, lab work, private sector work, and is now seeing the government’s role in terms of increasing environmental quality. As an intern, she wants to take some of the load off the people that she works with so that they can work to help the environment. The Baltimore Ravens fan enjoys watching iZombie, outdoor activities, riding bikes, going for walks, socializing with friends, and trying new foods.
Planning, Accountability, & Reporting Staff
Sammar Butt
Sammar is originally from Pakistan, now lives in Herndon, Virginia. Sammar is married and has three sons. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Public Health at the University of New England in Maine and takes summer courses while working at NIFA. Sammar has been an intern for the Planning, Accountability, and Reporting Staff for about two months. Her daily tasks include working on grant proposals, program analyses, and administrative duties. She hopes to learn more about program analysis in public health and how programs and grants are implemented and approved. When she is not working, she is taking care of her boys and she enjoys occasionally watching Disney movies.
Imani Cooper
Imani is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and is a senior at Florida A&M University where she majors in Biological Systems Engineering. Imani hopes to have a STEM job after college that deals with solving real-world problems. At NIFA, she works in the Planning, Accountability, and Reporting Staff where she is involved in program analysis. Coming from a land-grant university, Imani is interested in learning more about the process of issuing grants, where the money comes from, and the qualifications required for receiving a grant. Imani’s favorite sports team is the Carolina Panthers and she is a fan of the shows Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Luke Cage, and Insecure.
Institute of Food Production and Sustainability
Richard Bamberger
Richard, who is from Southern Maryland, is studying Computer Science at the University of Maryland University College, where he will graduate in the summer of 2019. He is planning on going to graduate school. Richard hopes to learn as much as possible from NIFA, improve his workplace skills, and help out wherever is needed. His favorite sports team is the Baltimore Ravens and, as a hobby, Richard likes to cook.
Kiana Patrick
Kiana is from Oakland, California. She recently graduated from California State University, Fullerton, where she studied Health and Human Development. She is planning on going to graduate school to study Health Policy. She aspires to be a Health Economist. Kiana interns for the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability and is working on a research project about artificial intelligence applications in agriculture. Kiana is a 49ers football fan and likes to read health journals and try new restaurants. She has a boxer-lab.
Budget Staff
Daisia Pratt
Daisia’s hometown is Odenton, Maryland. She attends the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where she is pursuing a degree in Finance. At NIFA, she works with Budget Department. Her daily tasks include reconciliation and records management. In her time with NIFA, she wants to expand her knowledge with the world of budget. Daisia’s hobby is songwriting.
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Office of Grants and Financial Management
Chardae Brown
Chardae is from Washington, DC. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a major in Business Management and a minor in Entrepreneurship. She is interning with OGFM in the Policy and Oversight Division. Her daily tasks include working on the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. She wants to enhance a professional background and expand networking. As a hobby, she is a cheerleading coach.
Chelsea Darby
Chelsea is from Clinton, Maryland. She earned her undergraduate degree from Towson University in Speech and Language Pathology. She now attends NOVA Southeastern Florida for graduate school. She is interning with the OGFM department. Her daily tasks include logging in and out awards to send them to specialist. Her favorite TV show is Power.
Bryana Deas
Bryana is from Oxon Hill, Maryland. She studies at Bowie State University and is pursuing a degree in Banking and Finance. At NIFA, she works in the Financial Operations Division. Her job is to monitor reports and create enrollment packages for grantees. Bryana’s favorite sports team is the Chicago Bulls and her favorite TV show is Power.
Gaurav Gopal
Gaurav is from North Potomac, Maryland. He just completed his B.S. in Management/Finance/Marketing from Penn State University. He is beginning his master’s program in Finance at University of Maryland College Park. He hopes to either work for the government or manage a company that manufactures electronic products. At NIFA, he works in OGFM’s Policy and Oversight Division (POD). His tasks including managing the RFA database, helping with the RFA routing process, updating the OGFM website, organizing and leading meetings, and assisting policy specialists. His favorite sports team is the Washington Redskins He loves to program, play and watch sports, and play video games.
Lauren Ismai
Lauren is from Sunrise, Florida. She attends Penn State and is pursuing a degree in Accounting. She interns in OGFM under the Financial Operations Division, where she wants to learn the ins and outs of accounting. She has a dog named Snuggle.
Stephanie Mason
Stephanie is from Washington, DC. She earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Morgan State University her master’s in Business Administration from Trinity Washington University. She is interning with OGFM with the Awards Management Division where she assists with processing awards and data entry. Stephanie loves to dance.
Claudia Palacios
Claudia is from the Washington, DC, area. She is working toward a degree in accounting at the University of the District of Columbia. She is interning with OGFM under the Financial Operations Division. Her daily tasks are verify enrollment authorizations for the grantee. Claudia loves to travel and claims the coolest place she has been so far is Paris. Her favorite sports team is the Washington Capitals.
Christopher Taste
Christopher is from Cross, South Carolina. He graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Culinary Food Safety with a concentration in Classical French Cuisine. Christopher is now getting his masters at Johns Hopkins University in Food Safety Regulation. He is interning with OFGM in Finance Operations Division. In his free time, he loves to garden.
Phillip Taylor
Phillip is from Queens, New York. He is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business from University of Maryland Eastern Shore. His future goals are to attend law school. Phillip works in OGFM’s Policy and Oversight Division. His daily tasks include helping with presentations, working with the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, hosting meetings and events, and setting up teleconferences. Phillip loves to play basketball and is a big fan of the New York Knicks.
Kirsten Wallace
Kirsten is from Cheverly, Maryland. She is a senior at George Mason University with a major in Global Affairs and minor in Business. She is interning with OGFM’s Policy and Oversight Division. Her favorite sports team is the Washington Redskins and she loves dolphins.
Communications Staff
Prali Chitnis
Prali is from Reston, Virginia. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Economics with a minor in Business at Christopher Newport University. She hopes to attend graduate school. Prali is interning with the Communications Staff, where her daily tasks include searching impacts and creating slides for e-board near the elevators. Through this internship, she hopes to learn the ins and outs of communication. Her Favorite TV show is Twisted. As a hobby, Prali loves to travel and has been to many places.
Belinda Freeman
Belinda is from Los Angeles, California. She is pursuing a major in Mass Media with a concentration in TV Production. Belinda attends Clark-Atlanta University in Georgia. After her undergraduate degree, she hopes to get her master’s degree. At NIFA, she is interning with the Communication Staff. Her daily tasks include making e-board slides, infographics, and other visual needs. With her time at NIFA, she wants to learn more about the diversity of career paths and options with a communications degree. In her free time, Belinda goes to music festivals and practices yoga. Her favorite TV show is the Handmaids Tale.
Justin Myers
Justin is from Rockville, Maryland. He is pursuing a major in Computer Science and a minor in Economics at Villanova University. After college, he hopes to find a job in a tech company. He is currently interning with the Communication Staff. His daily tasks include managing communication requests, conducting website maintenance, and uploading images to the image library. In his free time, Justin watches Games of Thrones. His favorite sports team is the Baltimore Orioles and likes to play baseball as a hobby.
Joslynn Watkins
Joslynn is from Gaithersburg, Maryland. She just graduated from Gettysburg College with a degree in Biology. This fall she will begin working on her master’s in Public Health at the University of Maryland. Joslynn is interning with the Communication Staff. Her daily tasks include handling social media accounts and writing articles for The Beet. During her time with NIFA, she wants to learn more about the government’s role in issuing grants and their relationship with university research. Her favorite sports team is the Philadelphia Eagles. In her free time she likes to watch Greys Anatomy and play basketball.
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