Student group offers WSU students community, professional development opportunities  

When students leave home for college, finding a sense of belonging in their new communities can be a challenge. That’s where the organization Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) comes in.  

Open to undergraduate and graduate students in all majors and colleges, the Washington State University MANRRS chapter works to promote access and opportunity by providing a welcoming place for students of all backgrounds and identities.  

“It’s a support group for students who may feel marginalized or like they don’t have a voice,” said Miguel Inzunza, director of student recruitment and retention in WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). “The power of belonging is incredible, and its ripple effect is vast. These students have so much to offer, and I see MANRRS as a conduit for them to shine and give back.”  

With the support of university leadership, the WSU MANRRS chapter was established several years ago after Colette Casavant, director of student success for CAHNRS Student Success and Academic Programs, learned about the organization while attending an Agriculture Future of America conference. After she and two students participated in a national MANRRS conference, they deemed the organization a good fit for WSU.  

“WSU students who join MANRRS are more likely to see others who share a similar life story or experience,” said Casavant, the chapter’s faculty advisor. “It’s also a place where they can make an impact on current and future student communities and help traditionally underrepresented students be future leaders in agriculture.” 

The organization has helped fill a void for students like Adriana Zaragoza, WSU MANRRS co-vice president. As a Latina who grew up in a diverse California community, she felt lost after arriving at WSU and discovering how few students of color were in her major.  

“When I experienced the atmosphere of MANRRS and saw what it is hoping to achieve, it resonated with me and made me realize this is a movement I want to be a part of,” said Zaragoza, who is pursuing a master’s degree in animal sciences.  

Aside from a sense of community, the organization offers scholarship and professional development opportunities. Members have a chance to attend regional and national MANRRS conferences where they can network with industry members and graduate school representatives.  

“Students have a direct connection to industry, mentors, and job opportunities the entire time they’re involved in MANRRS,” Inzunza said. “It’s an incredible network to be a part of. Not a lot of programs have that.”  

WSU MANRRS, the only chapter in Washington state, has received a significant amount of endowment funding from AgWest Farm Credit. Student members also hold frequent fundraisers to support travel and event expenses. 

This year, a new Washington State Department of Agriculture grant will help MANRRS expand via a one-year pilot program designed to establish junior MANRRS chapters at three Washington high schools. The funds will support WSU MANRRS students and a CAHNRS staff member as they visit the high schools and facilitate leadership and professional development workshops.  

“Having our current student members engage with the junior MANRRS students is a great way to connect with high school students and make higher ed more accessible to them,” Inzunza said. “It can also be a wonderful recruitment tool.” 

MANRRS is one of the few professional organizations that spans an entire life cycle: members can participate as a high school student, a college student, an industry professional, or an alumnus. It also promotes a diverse future workforce.  

“MANRRS is one way to prepare the next generation of leaders,” said Nancy Deringer, associate dean of CAHNRS Student Success and Academic Programs. “It helps ensure that the workforce is representative of the population in the state.”  

Zaragoza agrees, adding that she can already see how her participation will benefit her future career.  

“The MANRRS mission statement and what they stand for is something that I know I’ll be able to take into my community, a future job, and the ag industry, even if I’m not a professional MANRRS member,” she said.  

Zaragoza encourages students who might be feeling hesitant to take the plunge, emphasizing that anyone can join the group, regardless of ethnicity or field of study. 

“Everyone is welcome to join us; we’re not just looking for minorities,” she said. “Our arms are open. It doesn’t matter what you look like, who you are, what your major is. We just want you to see the many opportunities that MANRRS has to offer.”