CANR Alumni Board Spotlight – Katie Ockert
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EmailCANR is releasing a series of spotlights on Alumni Board members. Katie Ockert is currently an Executive Board member representing MSU Extension.
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) has nearly 60,000 alumni living around the world. The CANR Alumni Board plays a critical role connecting this large and diverse alumni community to meaningful ways to engage with the college after graduation.
The mission of the CANR Alumni Board is to build relationships that serve the college, alumni, students and friends of MSU. The board consists of 17 volunteer members representing each of the college departments, MSU Extension, young alumni and six at-large members. These members meet four times a year: September, December, March and July in East Lansing.
Alumni Board members have a variety of responsibilities, including promoting college events and philanthropic opportunities. They also serve as liaisons between the college, academic departments, alumni, and the agriculture and natural resources industries, among other duties. The work of the Alumni Board helps to keep the CANR community vibrant and connected.
CANR is releasing a series of spotlights on Alumni Board members. These stories will highlight each member's motivation for joining the board and share their experiences in this role.
Katie Ockert (’05, Agriculture and Natural Resources Communication) is an Executive Board member representing MSU Extension. She is currently serving as an MSU Extension (MSUE) educator.
How did your experience at CANR set you up for success in your career after graduation?
The experience that I had as a student employee with MSUE made me realize that I absolutely loved Extension work. The connections that I made not only with CANR staff, but with MSUE staff, and my peers has proven to be invaluable!
What inspired you to become a CANR Alumni Board member?
I am representing MSU Extension; Extension connects with so many alumni within their communities, I saw joining the board as another opportunity to share the great work that MSUE does with a broader audience.
What advice do you have for CANR current students?
Make strong connections and friendships with your peers; they will last a lifetime!
How would you encourage other CANR alumni to get involved and connect with the college?
I encourage alumni to attend the alumni events and find out how to get involved with the college!
What kind of impact do you hope to have as a member of the CANR Alumni Board?
I hope that through the various student scholarships that students become aware of the alumni association and once they graduate, they stay connected and involved.
Learn more about the responsibilities and mission of the CANR Alumni Board and its members. To learn more about how you can get involved or serve on the CANR Alumni Board, please contact the CANR Advancement team.
