UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- After five years as a developing program, the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State has transitioned to a new administrative home and collaborative governance structure. The Student Farm is now a unit of Penn State Student Affairs and will be advised by partners across the campus and community.
One of the Student Farm’s primary goals is to build partnerships throughout campus, and this transition will allow the farm to pursue and expand that mission. Student Affairs includes more than 30 units and supports more than a thousand student organizations, so there are many natural opportunities for connections.
The Student Farm was formerly housed under the Sustainability Institute in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research.
Leslie Pillen, associate director of Farm and Food Systems, has directed the Sustainable Food Systems Program since its inception in 2014. Pillen said the farm’s administrative transition fits the core mission of the program well.
“The Sustainability Institute led the way for the Student Farm to become what it is today. Student leadership and engagement is at the heart of the program, so this new partnership model is an exciting opportunity to continue cultivating student leadership and engagement in all facets of food systems.”
An advisory council made up of key partners across the campus and community will oversee the farm’s operation. The Sustainability Institute will have a representative on the council as well as Student Affairs, the College of Agricultural Sciences and other units.
Claire Byrnes, a senior majoring in anthropology and geography, is the executive director of Student Farm Club. She said she is looking forward to reaching new audiences and having more people on the farm team with this transition.
“The Student Farm is a place for people of every interest to explore their role in the food system,” Byrnes said. “I am excited to see all the opportunities for student engagement along the farm’s new path forward as an established Penn State feature.”
The Sustainability Institute played a crucial role in guiding the Student Farm throughout its pilot phase and will continue advocating for the farm’s mission. Paul Shrivastava, director of the Sustainability Institute, said that he is excited about the opportunities students have to manage and operate the farm.
“Its home within Student Affairs will allow the Student Farm to be more integrated with the Office of Student Activities and to expand its educational offerings,” Shrivastava said. “We hope it will serve as a model for student leadership in other engagement initiatives.”
The Student Farm has a unique student engagement model that involves students in every aspect of leadership. A few programs with similar models are already housed in Student Affairs, so it is well-versed in supporting this structure.
“I think the Student Farm is the best example of student engagement that we have on campus because it encompasses the curriculum, the co-curriculum, and the community,” said Barry Bram, senior director of Student Engagement Programs. “While Student Affairs is excited to have the Student Farm, we know we can’t do it without those other partners. We look forward to continuing the relationship that we have with them.”
About the Sustainable Food Systems Program at Penn State
The Sustainable Food Systems Program includes the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State, Student Farm Club, the inter-college Food Systems Minor, and Course-Client Collaborations. The goal of the program is to develop students’ knowledge about sustainable agriculture practices while providing hands-on learning opportunities and positively contributing to the community.