Introducing this Year's GOALs Cohort from Penn State

GOALS, also known as the Global Orientation to Agricultural Learning, is a project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This project involves the partnering of many organizations including the Global Teach Ag Network, the University of Idaho, Penn State, and the World Food Prize Foundation. 

This program gives preservice educators a unique opportunity to spend 9 months learning about food security education with the intention of sharing this information in classrooms across the country during their Spring Immersion Experience.

Brandon Bixler

Today we are excited to be introducing the second cohort of the GOALS program that are coming from Penn State University. This year, there are a total of 19 preservice agricultural educators who will travel to Iowa for the World Food Prize where they will network with the nation’s biggest names in agriculture and food security. Join us in celebrating what each of them brings to this program.

The first cohort member to introduce is Brandon Bixler. He is a pre-service agricultural educator at Penn State. Brandon is also an intern for the Global Teach Ag Network where he helps with a variety of aspects of the Global Learning in Ag community. 

Emily Jay

Next, we will learn a little bit about Emily Jay. She has just transferred to Penn State and is a junior majoring in agricultural and extension education.  She is looking forward to the connections she will make as an active member of the GOALS program this year.

Noah Phillips

    Noah Phillips is the next cohort member we will meet. He is a pre-

service agricultural educator at Penn State University. Noah is also in the third year of his college career and looks forward to drawing on his previous knowledge through his 10 years of being involved in                                              4-H in the classroom. 

Cheyenne Bastian-Brown

A big welcome to Cheyenne Bastian-Brown. She is a sophomore in the pre-service agriculture education program at Penn State University. Cheyenne brings so much to the table as a GOALs participant. She is an intern with the Global Teach Ag Network and serves university organizations like Delta Theta Sigma, the Penn State Dairy Science Club and many more. 

Introducing Paige Rohrbach, a member of this year’s #WFPFGOALS program. She is a pre-service agriculture educator at the Penn State University. Paige is a junior in the major and brings her experience through her university involvement in the PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters chapter                                          and Delta Theta Sigma to the GOALs cohort this year. 

Paige Rohrbach

Connor Gross

Introducing Connor Gross, a member of this year’s #WFPFGOALS program. Connor is a third-year student majoring in Veterinary and Biomedical Science at the Penn State University. His career goal is to become a small-animal veterinarian and own his own practice. Connor’s experiences in the Penn State Blue Band, Delta Theta Sigma, and the local veterinary hospital will bring a unique perspective to the cohort. 

Say hello to Marissa McPeak-Kennedy, she is our next member of this year’s #WFPFGOALS program to highlight. She is a pre-service agricultural educator at the Penn State University. The GOALs program will incorporate her love for traveling out of the country and being immersed into different cultures.  

Marissa McPeak-Kennedy

Welcoming Seanna Geiger, our next member of the #WFPFGOALS program to put the spotlight on. She is a pre-service agriculture educator in her third year at the Penn State University. She is excited to bring her experience from being a member of the Athens FFA Alumni to the cohort. 

Sean Geiger

Introducing Lily Schoenman, a member of this year’s #WFPFGOALS program. She is a sophomore in the pre-service agricultural educator program at Penn State University. She is an active member of the University’s Student Farm Club where she has been able to impact local food security by volunteering at events and traveling to work and learn with the club. 

Lily Schoenman

    Now, this is just half of the #WFPFGOALS cohort, so we aren’t quite ready to travel to the World Food Prize. Meet our friends from the University of Idaho in our next blog! Are you interested in participating in this program? Learn more about the program at https://globalteachagnetwork.psu.edu/goals-program/.