Student Spotlight: Neva Grace Brescia

Cultivating a Passion for Urban Agriculture

With more than 350 students enrolled in our associate, undergraduate, and graduate programs, North Carolina State University’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences is where curiosity turns into action.
Whether in the field, the lab, or somewhere in between, our students develop the skills and experience to become career-ready and tackle agriculture’s biggest challenges.

Today, we’re chatting with Neva Grace Brescia, a graduating Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems major.

Hi Neva Grace, where are you from, and how did that influence your area of study?
I was born and raised in Cary, North Carolina, and attended Athens Drive High School in Raleigh. Being from a suburban area, I’ve always been fascinated by urban growing systems like vertical farming and hydroponics. Having family in rural parts of the state, I love keeping that connection to agriculture while adapting it to urban environments.

What led you to choose NC State and Crop & Soil Sciences?
My dad attended NC State in the 1980s, so I grew up as a proud Wolfpack fan, attending football games at Carter-Finley Stadium and basketball games at what is now the PNC Arena.
Crop and Soil Sciences felt like a natural fit, offering majors that combine all my interests — urban horticulture, sustainability, and agroecology.

What has been your major?
I’ve been studying Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems with a concentration in Urban Horticulture throughout my time at NC State.

What topics in your major interested you most?
I was especially drawn to urban horticulture and learning how controlled environments and urban spaces can make food production possible even with limited land.
I also loved approaching these topics through a sustainability lens, finding ways to apply eco-friendly principles to new growing systems.

What was your favorite class?
Intro to Beekeeping! Learning about nature’s pollinators — and witnessing a real honey bee swarm — was unforgettable.

Were you involved in any student groups or clubs?
Yes! I’ve been active in several clubs. One of my favorites is the NC State Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers Chapter, where I served as an officer for three years.
I’m also a member of Pi Alpha Xi (our horticulture honor society) and the Student Wolfpack Club, where I cheer on all of NC State’s varsity sports teams.

What type of hands-on experiences have you had?
I’ve participated in many field trips across North Carolina, including visits to orchards and agricultural research stations for my Temperate Zone Tree Fruits course.

Through the Provost Professional Internship Program, I worked at the Horticulture Field Labs, studying nutrient deficiencies in hydroponically grown culinary herbs, with a focus on basil. This hands-on research experience really shaped my academic journey.

What is your career goal?
I hope to work within the university system or with NC State Extension to promote agricultural research and make it accessible to the communities that need it most.
I love working with people and plants — Extension feels like the perfect way to blend both passions.

What are your plans after graduation?
I’m exploring my next steps! I’m considering graduate school or possibly starting my career at NC State. Either way, I want to stay connected to this amazing university.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned at NC State?
The importance of building and maintaining relationships. Networking has opened so many doors for me, and it’s a skill I’ll carry into my career.

What do you like most about Crop & Soil Sciences?
The department feels like a family. I love how interdisciplinary the majors are, offering skills across a wide range of subjects that prepare us for real-world challenges.

What do you wish you’d known sooner?
I wish I had used NC State’s ePACK job and internship system earlier. It offers so many opportunities! Although I loved my internship at the Horticulture Field Labs, I realize now how many other possibilities were out there.

What advice would you give a student considering agroecology at NC State?
Be ready to broaden your horizons! This major lets you explore agriculture through the lens of sustainability — a perspective that is becoming more essential every day.

What’s a little-known fact about you?
I’m a huge NC State sports fan! My family and I even traveled to Phoenix in 2024 to watch our men’s basketball team compete in the Final Four.

Picture yourself in Crop and Soil Sciences.

If you’re passionate about sustainable farming, environmental stewardship, and working with nature, NC State’s Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems program could be the path for you.
Explore our degree options, meet our inspiring students, and discover how you can grow your future with us.

Connecting students with opportunity — that’s how we’re growing the future.