Meet the 2020 SASES national officers

During the 2019 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX, students from SASES1 clubs around the country elected their 2020 National Officer Team. Student officer positions include president, vice president, member relations, corresponding secretary, and recording secretary. The officer team meets at least once each month via video conference and plans student events and sessions during the Annual Meeting. Additionally, all student officers attend the spring meeting, which will be held at Iowa State University 16-18 Apr. 2020. Join us in welcoming our 2020 National SASES Officers!

President—Marjorie Hanneman, Iowa State University

“I am currently a junior double majoring in Agronomy and Genetics at Iowa State University. I hope to go on to get a Ph.D. in plant molecular genetics and work specifically in molecular breeding. Eventually, I want to be a faculty member and have my own lab utilizing gene editing for nutritional quality. I am involved in the Iowa State Agronomy Club, Genetics Club, and Cardinal Key Honors Society. I also play keyboard in a band called Midnight Flora! I ride American Saddlebred horses and competed a lot in high school. I am originally from Milwaukee, WI. My favorite parts of being the SASES president are the meetings and the ability to network with fellow students as well as professionals. I have spent time in Costa Rica studying tropical crop production and will be traveling to Uganda in March to plant a school garden and provide information on nutrition and grain storage.”

Vice President—Maura Shennan, Oklahoma State University

“I am a junior at Oklahoma State University (OSU). I am originally from Michigan, though I moved to Stillwater to study agriculture. I am dual majoring in Plant and Soil Sciences and Spanish with a minor in Global Studies. After graduation, I plan to continue my education with a master's and Ph.D. as well as serve in the Peace Corps in Latin America. I hope to work internationally in food security and sustainable agriculture research in my career. On campus, I am a member of OSU's Agronomy Cub, president of the OSU Sierra Club, and a competitor on OSU's Soil Judging Team. Outside of school and work, I am either riding my horse, playing guitar, or attempting to grow a garden.”

Member Relations—JD Powell, Kansas State University

“I am a junior at Kansas State University where I am majoring in Agribusiness with a minor in Agronomy. I grew up on a farm in Nebraska where my passion for agriculture sprouted and continues to grow. I have copious interests, but honeybees are my overall enthusiasm. In my free time, you will find me hiking and traveling or traveling to hike. I am excited to serve on the SASES officer team and strive to share my passion for agriculture with my fellow SASES members.”

“I am a junior at University of Wisconsin–River Falls (UWRF) where I am majoring in Crop and Soil Science with a Soil Emphasis. I am also minoring in Agricultural Business and Sustainable Agriculture. After college, I would love to work in extension where I can advocate for agriculture, perform some workshops and research, and stay in contact with the farmer. In my free time, I enjoy painting and doing anything outdoors including hunting and hiking. I'm an officer for the Crop and Soils club at UWRF and also in the honors program. I come from a family farm in central Minnesota where we have a chicken barn, beef cattle, and a corn–soybean cropping operation.”

Recording Secretary—Caroline Barrett, North Carolina State University

“I'm a sophomore at North Carolina State University. My major is Plant and Soil Science with a concentration in Crop Biotechnology. My minors are Environmental Toxicology and Genetics. After I complete my undergraduate, I plan on going to graduate school for Plant Pathology and am aiming for a career in plant breeding. I love to go freshwater fishing, gardening, and being in the kitchen baking. I grew up in Tarboro, NC with my mom and my younger brother. While at school, I am the secretary of my college's Agronomy Club. I have an internship with the USDA research lab on campus, and I serve as a mentor during the summer for early starting freshmen.”