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Meet our Junior and Senior Ambassadors

ARE’s student Ambassadors help with Agricultural Business Management programs and recruitment. Students who serve as Ambassadors will develop highly sought-after transferable skills including leadership, teamwork, time management, and listening skills. They will also help influence the pathway of the major for years to come. Each Ambassador commits to two years of service, the second being paid and more focused on individually managed projects. Ambassadors are important because they have unique student perspectives when it comes to recruitment and reaching the high school population.

Class of 2020 – Our Senior Ambassadors


“My name is Savannah Strickland. I am from Mount Olive, NC and come from a family farm which harvests many crops and is in the hog and turkey business. I am a junior studying AgBusiness Management with minors in Economics and Spanish. During my time at NCSU, I have become a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, served as the Treasurer and Vice President of the AgBusiness Management Club, and studied abroad to Valencia, Spain. This past summer and this upcoming summer I am interning with Syngenta. The ARE Department and ABM have opened many doors for me and I have learned so much about myself and the agricultural industry. I am not ready to graduate next year!”


Dane Lewis, a native of North Carolina grew up in Garner and Clayton. Having graduated from the Agricultural Institute in May of 2018, with a double major in Agricultural Business Management and Horticultural Science Management, he was prepared to work towards a bachelor’s degree in Ag Business. Outside of the classroom, he has participated in internships, including an Agritourism internship at the NCDA&CS, as well as interning for NC State’s Dr. Deborah Thompson in Research Partnerships. Excited about serving as an ambassador, he stated “When I first started at State, I was unsure where I fit. After joining the Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) Department I quickly felt at home. As an Ag Business major, I have had doors and opportunities opened for me. Both the professors and advisors have been tremendous. Being a part of this department has been a blessing, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with potential NC State students about all the ARE Department has to offer.


“My name is Danielle Matthews; I am a junior ambassador for the ARE department.  I am a junior in Agribusiness Management with minors in Crop Science and Economics.  I came to NC State from a fourth generation row crop farm in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.  Agriculture has always been my passion, so I knew NC State was the right fit for me.  In my time at NC State I have been active in the Agronomy and Agriculture Business Management Club as well as Sigma Alpha, a professional agriculture sorority.  The summer of 2018, I studied abroad with the ARE department in Italy for Maymester.  This experience is one the highlights of my college career at this point.  I learned a lot about myself, classmates, and another culture.  I continue to remain active on campus to establish the connection with the ABM program and NC State as a whole.”

Class of 2021 – Our Junior Ambassadors


“My name is Lydia Stegall. I am a sophomore in Agriculture Business Management with potential minors in either Animal Science or Ag Extension. During my time at NCSU, I have become a member of the Ag Business club as well as Young Farmers and Ranchers. This past summer I took a Maymester class and it was a great experience and I would highly recommend taking courses like this. I will be serving as an ARE Junior Ambassador and can’t wait to see what opportunities come with this role. I know ABM will open may doors for me and give me lots of opportunities I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t in this major.”


“My name is Ashling Murphy and I am a junior in Agricultural Business Management with minors in Economics and Crop Science. I interned with Tyson Foods in their Local Grain Services Department this summer in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. I love my major because everyone knows everyone and our teachers are always friendly and helpful!”


“My name is Lauren Hunley and I am from Stokes County, NC. I am a sophomore in Agbusiness Management with a minor in Extension Education. Since being at NC State I have become involved in Agbusiness club and Young Farmers and Ranchers. This past summer I did an internship with N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center. Being a part of the ARE department has been an awesome experience for me. It has also given me a great opportunity to grow personally, professionally, and in my knowledge of the agricultural industry.”