CAHNRS Talk Tuesday: Sullivan Nevada

Each week, we showcase one of our CAHNRS Ambassadors, a student leadership organization that encourages students to pursue higher education and serves as a liaison between the college and the greater community. This week, we’re featuring Sullivan Nevada, a junior from Bristow, Virginia.Graphic of student's interests with a formal portrait photo.

What are you studying?

I’m majoring in Food Science.

Favorite Show/Movie:

Bones

Favorite Cougar Tradition:

My favorite Cougar traditions would have to be Mom’s Weekend and Dad’s weekend. The whole energy on campus changes with the incoming parents and families. Although my dad is currently deployed, he made it to Dad’s Weekend last year and we made memories that I will always cherish between the football game and the other on-campus events. The one tradition that I go to whether or not my parents and family are in town is the Mom’s Weekend craft fair. It’s incredibly interesting to see all of the vendors selling their Coug themed gear and showing off the variety of skills and talents that our community has to offer. I am always excited to go check out the booths and invest in the local vendors.

Favorite CAHNRS Commodity:

Anything from Ferdinand’s and the Creamery! Since both of these producers fall under the Food Science department, all of the CAHNRS commodities produced from Ferdinand’s and the Creamery are near and dear to my heart. You cannot go wrong with a cold scoop of Ferdinand’s ice cream on a warm day and the Cougar Gold Cheese is our namesake for a reason! If I had to choose of all the amazing options I would have to say that the Cappuccino Chip Grabber is my favorite and one CAHNRS commodity that I cannot live without.

Why be a CAHNRS Coug?

I knew from the beginning of my college career that I wanted to be a food scientist. That determined the school that I chose as well as the college. I found a community within CAHNRS despite its misconception as only the school of agriculture. Many people don’t know it is much larger than that; our college is a network, an interconnected community of individuals that provide an essential necessity for the general population. The connectivity of this college is a major part of the value, and the point of higher education is to find innovative solutions to the problems faced within the industry.

Best Student Experience:

One of the best experiences that I have had as an undergraduate was the opportunity to be an assistant teacher for the Biology 107 lab. Since I was able to see things from the other side of the desk and help my fellow students by drawing upon my own experience from taking the class, I developed a deeper understanding of the institutional teaching methods used here at WSU. The class was also part of a larger study under the School of Molecular Biosciences on how to improve social teaching of science-based classes which really opened my eyes to the struggles of teaching higher level learning. This experience is preparing me to meet the expectations of my future as a student and a professional.

CAHNRS Taught Me:

CAHNRS taught me the value of learning through mentorship and how communicating one-on-one with experienced professionals can be a valuable resource as well as a more intensive method of learning. The best experience I have gained from my time here at WSU is the availability of research positions and the qualified, seasoned mentors that I have had the pleasure of learning from. I began research during my first year through the Ignite! Undergraduate Research initiative program, which gave me a leg up and allowed me to gain the necessary experience needed for the USDA research lab I work in now. I have found a path that I genuinely enjoy, and it has shown me many possible paths for my future career.