UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Emily Stapleton, a first-year agricultural and biorenewable systems management major in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is working toward a career in sustainable food production. At Penn State, she’s found a place to pursue her academic interests and love of competitive cycling.
“I grew up racing mountain bikes, and when I was transitioning into college, I knew cycling and the cycling community was something I wanted to stay involved with,” Stapleton said. “It’s been super fun to be surrounded by peers who share my passion.”
Stapleton joined the Penn State Cycling Club during her first semester at University Park. In November, she and other team members traveled to Bentonville, Arkansas, for the USA Cycling Collegiate MTB National Championship. The team did well overall, and Stapleton herself took home the national championship title for club cross-country cycling.
“It was such a special way to end my freshman season,” she said. “I’ve been training with a coach for two years and balancing academics, so this moment was a testament to the hard work and people who’ve helped me reach this point.”
Stapleton chose the College of Agricultural Sciences because of its reputation and the wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities available to students, she said. She also directly related her love of the outdoors and cycling to her decision to pursue the agricultural and biorenewable systems management major.
“Growing up in State College, some of my favorite road rides were out in the country,” she said. “As I began to train more seriously, nutrition became an important emphasis in my day-to-day life. This spurred my thinking about agriculture, food waste, sustainability, and how consumer decisions — whether informed or not — can impact the health of the planet and individuals. The overlap between agriculture and cycling has become apparent in my life.”
Stephen Chmely, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, said agricultural and biorenewable systems management students, such as Stapleton, learn how renewable agricultural commodities are the building blocks of future technologies to feed, clothe, house and power people in the 21st century.
“In the major, we strive to demonstrate the connections between the economic, environmental and societal impacts of renewable bioproducts,” he said. “Companies are searching for qualified people who understand and can manage this ever-increasing complex marketplace, and I believe our students will be leaders in this field for years to come.”
During her senior year of high school, Stapleton met several agricultural and biorenewable systems management students from the University. After hearing about their experiences, she knew the major would be a good fit. She noted that her interests in sustainability in the food production sector and climate change were specific factors that drew her to the major.
“My studies will focus on creating sustainable food production methods for our growing global population,” she said. “I want to use applied sciences to make it easier for the consumer to make sustainable choices at the grocery store and understand why that’s important.”
Reflecting on her first semester, Stapleton said she already sees how her major is a comprehensive track that applies science to real-world sustainability issues. She explained that her courses give her diverse skills that will support her future goals of solving problems in the bioeconomy.
“I don’t know exactly the career path I’ll take, but I’d love to be a sustainability specialist or involved in the agroforestry industry,” she said. “My advice for other students interested in this major is to take advantage of your first-year seminar to learn about available resources and how to get connected to cool, hands-on learning opportunities.”