Joy Johnson has made connections with peers, faculty, and the industry

December 01, 2021

As a senior in the Horticulture B.S. program, Joy plans to continue to develop these connections by studying plant breeding after she graduates

Joy Johnson is a senior in the Horticulture B.S. program.

Why did you choose Horticulture as your major/degree?

When I was starting at Michigan State, I was really interested in plant breeding, and potentially pursuing a graduate degree in plant breeding. So, I felt like horticulture would provide me with the knowledge I would need for that.

I got interested in plant breeding because I grew up on a farm, and I became fascinated by the different varieties of crops and how they offer different advantages to the farmers.

What has been the best experience in your major so far?

I have been involved in the Student Horticulture Association (SHA) since I was a freshman. Last year I served as the vice president, and I am currently serving as the president of the association. I have made some of my best friends and best memories with SHA - from spring show, to fall trip, to NCLC, and many other activities, SHA has played a major role in my college and horticulture experiences.

What is the best selling point about your major that you would like others to know?

The horticulture major is a relatively small major at MSU which means that in your major classes, you’ll be able to easily form connections. You’ll have classes with a lot of the same students which makes it easy to get to know each other and work together on assignments, studying, and other things. The faculty are also very approachable and easy to connect with; everyone in the department wants you to succeed and that is made obvious through classes, scholarships, etc.

What are your future plans?

Right now, I’m planning on going to grad school and getting a master’s degree in plant breeding. I would like to work with berry crops, and I’m really interested in more applied breeding compared to more molecular research. Once I get the masters, I would like to work as a plant breeder in the horticulture industry.