Let’s BRAAG about Jalynn Greer, a Kentucky State University Scholar who is Bridging a Career Path in Nursing and Agriculture
June 6, 2024 - Written By Basia Skudrzyk
Jalynn Greer, a student at Kentucky State University (KSU), shared her recent academic journey from nursing to agriculture with Basia Skudrzyk, NASA Acres program coordinator, and her life-changing experience with the BRAAG program (Boosting Representation of African Americans in Geoscience) at University of California - Merced (UC Merced). The BRAAG program is led by Dr. Teamrat Ghezzehei, a professor at UC Merced in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences and one of NASA Acres’ principal investigators.
Creating spaces of belonging within research programs like BRAAG is essential. When students feel included and valued, they are more likely to engage and contribute their unique insights and ideas fully. This sense of belonging is nurtured through mentorship, peer support networks, and culturally responsive practices that BRAAG recognizes and celebrates, acknowledging the diverse backgrounds of all participants. By doing so, the program enhances individual student experiences and fosters a collaborative and supportive community. Dr. Ghezzehei is instrumental in creating such spaces, and NASA Acres is proud to be a sponsoring participant. This summer, seven students will participate in the BRAAG program at the University of California – Merced.
Dr. Ghezzehei was born in Eritrea, and together with his colleagues in collaboration with historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) partners from KSU, Tennessee State University, and Howard University, they created a summer research internship focused on providing opportunities and graduate admission support to 12 students over three years. NASA Acres sponsors the summer research collaboration, which provides additional immersive and enriching research and professional development activities in collaboration with several UC Merced and neighboring research facilities. The intention of expanding opportunities for scholars who have traditionally not considered the geoscience field is one of NASA Acres’ core values.
Harvesting a New Career Horizon in Agriculture
Jalynn Greer was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and currently resides in Bowling Green, Ohio. She currently attends KSU, studying agriculture with a track in nutrition and a minor in psychology. She began her studies by being a part of the nursing school and changed her track to agriculture after she had the opportunity to be a part of the BRAAG program. Jalynn shared that the BRAAG program provided her with a very hands-on learning experience with a team of mentors and researchers who left a lasting impression on the work she was exposed to.
Deciding to change her educational pathway provided Jalynn with the passion and curiosity she was seeking. When she was a nursing student, her field of interest was maternal and infant care nutrition. She feels she can continue to develop this area by focusing specifically on agriculture and how food affects maternal and infant care through vitamin and mineral management. As Jalynn is working towards completing her Bachelor’s degree, she reflected upon how she learned about BRAAG and what convinced her to sign up.
Never being exposed to the field of agriculture, Jalynn learned about BRAAG from a trusted friend who also applied to the program. They were both accepted into the program and able to travel together to participate in the summer research internship. Jalynn recalled meeting with Ms. Bernard, the BRAAG Program Coordinator at Kentucky State University. Jalynn had an interview and shared she was never exposed to agriculture and was concerned this would disqualify her from the program. Jalynn recalls that Ms. Bernard did not give up on her - she saw her potential and knew that incorporating people from other disciplines would only make the experience stronger and more diverse by bringing many people and perspectives together.
Jalynn feels that being provided with a foundation in geosciences allowed her to become more curious. She learned about soil biodiversity, soil density, and how it operates in the ecosystem. Understanding soil's physical, chemical, and biological components allowed Jalynn to get out of her comfort zone and explore a new environment that stimulated her to think from different lenses and perspectives. She recalled understanding how soil organisms contribute to the cycling of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon. Working with Dr. Rebecca Rock in a lab studying nitrogen soil provided Jalynn with the experience of testing soil samples and understanding their various nitrogen levels.
Jalynn had the opportunity to study biochar and its nutritional benefits when burned and put back into the soil. She researched soil moisture levels and experimented with soil by placing it in a variety of temperature levels. The research faculty and mentors were key to the success of BRAGG’s program and graduate students who believed in the importance of investing in all diversity of thought. When Jalynn worked with Brendan and Elena as graduate students, she gained more confidence, knowing she was not doing the work alone. The summer research experience taught Jalynn the importance of teamwork and working together to learn about soil. Through this summer research experience, Jalynn learned more about herself introspectively and where she saw herself in the future. She had the opportunity to create a poster presentation focused on her research experience, building her academic portfolio, and being a part of a scholarly research symposium which included many research programs that were a part of the UC Merced campus. Seeing people come together from a variety of disciplines inspired Jalynn to dream big.
When Jalynn returned to the KSU campus last fall after experiencing the BRAAG program, she reached out to her mentor, and a professor decided to become her mentor. Due to this mentorship, Jalynn is pursuing research on herbal medicine and its effects on changes in temperature.
Jalynn plans to attend graduate school after she completes her studies at Kentucky State University. She would love to be back in California at either the University of California Davis or the University of California Berkeley. Both schools have wonderful maternal and infant programs where Jalynn would like to achieve her Masters and then a PhD.
Jalynn believes BRAAG is extremely important because it gives scholars a fresh start for doing agriculture research and the confidence to learn something they may not have necessarily been exposed to. Agriculture is important in the geosciences as it highlights the interconnectedness of Earth systems and human activities. Tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing are used in geosciences to monitor crop health, soil moisture, land use changes, and other agricultural parameters, enabling precision farming and better resource management.
Jalynn is grateful to her professors and staff who were part of the experience. “They were always available and accessible to help me. You don't have to know anything about agriculture going into agriculture. You are provided with the tools and the support network, and then you can master it at the end,” shared Jalynn.
BRAGG presents a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical, hands-on experience. Such programs are particularly impactful when they incorporate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to these enriching experiences and faculty can connect with scholars and also learn from them. By actively recruiting participants from underrepresented groups, these programs can help dismantle barriers to entry in the agricultural sciences, promoting a more diverse and innovative workforce.
"Mentorship is crucial in agriculture science, as it helps cultivate the next generation of innovators who will feed the world." — Dr. Norman Borlaug
Dr. Borlaug's work is credited with saving over a billion people from starvation and greatly influencing modern agricultural practices. His efforts underscored the importance of scientific research in addressing global challenges. Throughout his life, Dr. Borlaug remained a strong advocate for scientific research, education, and policies that support agricultural development and food security. Dr. Borlaug's legacy continues to inspire agricultural scientists, policymakers, and humanitarian efforts worldwide, emphasizing the critical role of innovation and mentorship in achieving sustainable agricultural advancements.
To learn more about Jalynn, you can follow her on LinkedIn. If scholars are interested in applying for the summer BRAAG internship next year, please contact Dr. Teamrat Ghezzehei directly at taghezzehei@ucmerced.edu