Fourteen undergraduate students from the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech University have been selected for the third cohort of the Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement (MILE) Program.
MILE is a three-semester leadership and professional development program that exposes students to key issues affecting local, state, and national agriculture while developing advanced personal and professional skills. The third cohort began in January 2022 and will finish in May 2023.
Davis College Interim Dean Cindy Akers said the MILE Program is a transformative experiential learning opportunity for students who want to be impactful leaders when they enter in the workforce.
“The MILE Program is creating problems solvers,” Akers said. “Our industry demands knowledgeable, trained young leaders who are equipped with the skills necessary to be effective difference makers. This program is another example of the many ways the Davis College at Texas Tech is striving for excellence.”
MILE Program members go through an extensive application and interview process and are selected by the MILE advisory committee, which is comprised of agricultural industry representatives and Davis College faculty and staff.
The program uses industry engagement, networking, leadership curriculum, and travel experiences to give students a competitive edge when entering the agricultural workforce. The MILE experience includes both on- and off-campus workshops and tours as well as trips to Austin and Washington, D.C. to meet with government representatives about agriculture and public policy.
MILE students also enroll in three academic courses focused on the personal, service and community aspects of leadership and are required to complete a professional internship. Each student will receive a leadership certificate upon graduation from the program.
MILE Program Director, Lindsay Kennedy, said MILE provides a high-impact learning experience for Davis College students interested in developing their leadership and professional skills.
“These students want to be leaders in the agriculture industry and in their communities,” Kennedy said. “With each new cohort, MILE is developing highly qualified students who can go into the industry with the training and experiences necessary to address the big issues facing agriculture and rural America.”
The following students represent the third MILE cohort:
Jenne Arrott, Agricultural Education & Communications, San Antonio, Texas
Sara Garcia, Plant & Soil Science, Houston, Texas
Kourtney Gibson, Agricultural Communications, Haskell, Texas
Phelan Graham, Agricultural & Applied Economics, Sanger, Texas
Breely Huguley, Agricultural Communications, Olton, Texas
Kade Miller, Animal Science, Panhandle, Texas
Blake Mills, Plant & Soil Science, Center Point, Texas
John Owen, Agricultural & Applied Economics, Sealy, Texas
McKenna Pavelock, Agricultural Communications, Anderson, Texas
Kloe Walker, Agricultural Communications, Celeste, Texas
Kielee Whitewood, Animal Science, Sanger, Texas
Carlye Winfrey, Agricultural Communications, Seminole, Texas
Kenndy Wood, Animal Science, Levelland, Texas
Isabella Yoder, Animal Science, Lindale, Texas
MILE Program uses industry engagement, networking, leadership curriculum, and travel experiences to give students a competitive edge as they enter the ag workforce.
