Gracie Carter serves as a graduate research assistant with the Smith Center and is pursing her PhD in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences. Over the past five years, Carter has completed her master’s degree in Agricultural leadership, Education, and Communication as a GRA with the Smith Center, expanded study abroad opportunities through the role of Herbert College of Agriculture study abroad coordinator, and enhanced partnerships in Southeast Asia as the ALOFT Farmer-to-Farmer program manager. She is committed to advancing the global engagement of UTIA through administrative support, research, and teaching responsibilities.

Carter's international experience includes time teaching, studying, and interning across Southeast Asia, Central America & the Caribbean, South America, Europe. and East Africa. Her passion lies in utilizing participatory practices and sustainable natural resource management to address global issues related to agriculture and food security. She desires to bridge gaps between communities, cultures, and disciplines to better understand one another and work together to achieve sustainable and resilient food systems. Presently, she is working toward this by goal by conducting research and extension aimed at integrating and scaling-up adoption of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) into tropical agroecosystems as a pathway to improve local food security and nutrition, enhance diversity and resilience of food systems, promote traditional knowledge, and support conservation efforts. 

Clifton Strengths: Woo, Includer, Connectedness, Communication, Positivity