Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Research

USDA-TAMUK Career Experience Program


Thanks to USDA funding, students have the opportunity to gain technical skills in science and research through career experiences.  Currently, Texas A&M University—Kingsville has seven USDA Projects that fund undergraduates to pursue internships in their fields of interest that relate to careers in agricultural, biological and food industry fields.  The projects are designed to enhance the educational programs of outstanding students that are capable of enhancing the nation’s food, agricultural, and natural resource scientific and professional work force.

Projects

There are several institutions collaborating with the seven projects.  The institutions include:  University of Puerto Rico, Florida International University, Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas A&M Soltis Center for Education and Research-Costa Rica.

TAMUK Faculty/Staff Contact Information

Dr. Shad Nelson (shad.nelson@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Randy Stanko (randy.stando@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Tanner Machado (tanner.machado@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Consuelo Donato (consuelo.donato@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Greta Schuster (greta.schuster@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Steven Chumbley (steven.chumbley@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Veronica Ancona (veronica.ancona@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Joel Reyes-Cabrera (joel.cabrera@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Humberto Perotto (humberto.perotto@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Evan Tanner (evan.tanner@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Natasha Mast (natasha.mast@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Michelle Garcia (michelle.garcia@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Jason Apple (jason.apple@tamuk.edu)


Project Directors and Co-Project Directors


GO START NOW

  • Lead Institution:  Texas A&M University-Kingsville
    • Project Director:  Dr. Randy Stanko
    • Co-PDs:  Dr. Steven Chumbley, Dr. Shad Nelson, Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Greta Schuster, and Dr. Tanner Machado
  • Collaborators
    • Florida International University--Lead Collaborator: Dr. K. Jayachandran
    • University of Puerto Rico--Lead Collaborator: Dr. D. Sotomayor

 


AgriCULTURE

  • Project Director:  Dr. Maria Hernandez-Velez
  • Co-PDs:  Dr. Rudolf Bohm, Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Tanner Machado, and Dr. Shad Nelson

NRCS

  • Lead Institution:  Texas A&M University-Kingsville 
    • Project Dirctor: Dr. Tanner Machado
    • Co-PDs: Dr. Shad Nelson, Dr. Randy Stanko, Dr. Consuelo Donato, and Dr. Greta Schuster
  • Collaborators
    • University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez--Dr. David Sotomayor

MSPEAL

  • Project Director: Dr. Tanner Machado
  • Co-PDs:  Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Randy Stanko, Dr. Michelle Garcia, Dr. Jason Apple, and Dr. Shad Nelson

Drone WAVE FACTOR

  • Project Director:  Dr. Humberto Perotto
  • Co-PDs:  Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Evan Tanner, and Dr. Natasha Mast

Connecting the Dots in the Global Fresh Produce Market

  • Project Director:  Dr. Veronica Ancona
  • Co-PDs:  Dr. Consuelo Donato, and Dr. Joel Reyes-Cabrera

MEAT'S Workforce (Manager Education and Agriculture Technical Skills)

  • Lead Institution--Texas A&M University-Kingsville
    • Project Director:  Dr. Tanner Machado
    • Co-PD:  Dr. Jason Apple
  • Collaborator--Palo Alto College
    • Co-PD:  Ty Chumbley

Workforce TEAM (Training, Experience About Meat)

  • Lead Institution--Texas A&M University-Kingsville
    • Project Director:  Dr. Tanner Machado
    • Co-PD:  Dr. Jason Apple
  • Collaborators
    • Palo Alto College
      • Co-PD:  Ty Chumbley
    • College of the Sequoias
      • Co-PDs:  Russell McKeith and Dr. Louann Waldner
    • South Texas College
      • Co-PD:  Dr. Thomas Ndolo and Sandra Espinoza

2023 Locations

2023-Internships

Upcoming Events

  • Summer Career Experience (Internship) Presentations open to public (October 4, 2024; Location TBD)

Past Events

  • Summer Career Experience (Internship) Presentations open to public (September 20, 2017; 5:00-7:30pm; Kleberg Ag Rm 102)
  • UAS students are enrolled in classes for Drones (Fall 2017)
  • START NOW students traveled to Costa Rica for a Workshop at TAMU Soltis Center (June 19th-July 2nd, 2017)
  • Summer Career Experience (Internship) Presentations open to public (September 13, 2016; 5:00-7:00pm; Kleberg Ag Rm 122)

GO START NOW

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Andrea Esqueda--Costa Rica
Melanie Munoz--Costa Rica
Elyana Ruiz--Costa Rica
Ashlin Scott-Vasquez--Costa Rica
Melissa Trujillo--Costa Rica

AgriCULTURE

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Charis Falcon - Puerto Rico
Aliyah Garrido - Puerto Rico
Mireya Lopez - Puerto Rico
Analysa Munoz--Puerto Rico
Rhianna Steelhammer - Puerto Rico
Manuel Villanueva - Puerto Rico
Kayla Villarreal - Puerto Rico
Esperanza Zambrano - Puerto Rico

USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Career Development Program)

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Alexa Bolivar
Jose Buentello
Kyce Cochran
Juan Garza
Pedro Garza
Megan Guerra
Carlos Hurtado, Jr.
Emily Lane
Irma Munoz
Carli Rotondi

 


M-SPEAL

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Erik Velazquez - Premont, TX
Myrka Gonzalez - Sinton, TX
Brianna Gonzalez - Sinton, TX
Nayery Rocha - Mission, TX
Aaliyah Garcia - Colombia, South America
Mariangels Gonzalez - Colombia, South America
Julia Warren - Colombia, South America
Caitlin Willson - Colombia, South America

 


Drone Wave FACTOR

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Belinda Arnero
Kristen Rocha
Elyana Ruiz
McKayla Valdez

 


Connecting the Dots

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Sean Booth - Mexico
Roberto Cavazos - Mexico
Emily-Rubene De Leon - Mexico
Phillip Del Moral - Mexico
Jasmin Esparza - Mexico
Kayleen Garcia - Mexico
Taylor Hood - Mexico
Isabel Lopez - Mexico
Guillermo Medina - Mexico
Reilly Smith - Mexico

 


100K Strong in the Americas

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Abraham Alvarez - Brazil
Eva Morgan - Brazil
Gabriella Ruiz - Brazil

MEAT'S Workforce

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Elissa Bars - Beef & Bones
Nathan Contreras - Moody's Meats
Edgar Cortez - Beef & Bones
Joseph Cruz - 2F Akaushi Beef
Rosemarie Gutierrez - Beef & Bones
Rene Herrera - Dan's Processing
Jazmin Juarez - Buckhead Meats
Skyland Kepsel - Beef & Bones
Samantha Lansford - Meat Lab
Armando Moreno - Vera King O Meats
Alejandra Pena-Davila - Cuatro Hermanos Meat Market
Desiree Rosales - 2F Akaushi Beef
Shelby Wright - Not For Sale Processing

GO START NOW

2023:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Abraham Alvarez - NRCS BEnavides, TX
Edgar Cortez - NRCS Laredo, TX
Rene Herrera - APHIS Laredo, TX
Julianna Leal - FSA San Benito, TX

2022:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Mathew Cantu - Costa Rica
Edgar Cortez - Costa Rica
Julianna Leal - Costa Rica
Alejandra Pena-Davila - Costa Rica
Clarissa Villareal - Costa Rica

AgriCULTURE

2023:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Dalenisa Coronado - Puerto Rico
Gene Espinoza - Puerto Rico
Madison Kromer - Puerto Rico
Nelly Nunez--Puerto Rico
Jeanette Ortiz - Puerto Rico
Leah Ortiz - Puerto Rico
Nicole Trevino - Puerto Rico
Allison Valdez - Puerto Rico
Briceida Valencia--Puerto Rico
Jonathan Vera - Puerto Rico

2022:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Geovanna Cavazos - Puerto Rico
Faith Escamilla - Puerto Rico
Adan Martinez - Puerto Rico
Mia Martinez - Puerto Rico
Eva Morgan - Puerto Rico

2021:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Victoria Benavides - Puerto Rico
William Gallant - Puerto Rico
Alezander Meza - Puerto Rico
Samuel Munoz - Puerto Rico
Hanna Sorenson - Puerto Rico

USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Career Development Program)

2023:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Austin Barrios - Decatur, TX
Lizette Canales-Gutierrez - Alma, NE
Omar Chavarria - Flagstaff, AZ
Kylie Diaz - Las Cruces, NM
Melivia Mujica - Corpus Christi, TX
Alejandra Pena-Davila - Logan, UT
Angela Ramirez - Angleton, TX
Carolina Salinas - Benavides, TX
Reanna Santos - Fort Collins, CO
William Stephens - Alva, OK
Jose Trejo - Pierre, SD
Clarissa Villareal - Aberdeen, SD
Maeli Caudillo - Puerto Rico & Texas
Abigail Flores - Puerto Rico & Texas
Theresa Hernandez - Puerto Rico & Texas
Andrew Mendiola - Puerto Rico & Texas
Angela Ramirez - Puerto Rico & Texas
Stephanie Sedillo - Puerto Rico & Texas
Cullen James Taylor - Texas
Amberly Zaragosa - Puerto Rico & Texas
Jasmin Esparza - California
Shayla Haiflich - California
Clarissa Saenz - California
Deanira Vela - California

2022:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Gabriel Aguilar - Curtis, NE
Josie Chapa - Lola, KS
Elias Cortez - Dakota City, NE
Krystal Lopez-Washburn - Marion, KS
Leslie Raya - Richland Center, WI
Emily Rubene de Leon - Lincoln, NE
Suzanne Torres - Clinton, TN
Javier Segovia - Mandan, ND
Erik Zamora - Wibaux, MT
Amberly Zaragoza - Sergeant Bluff, IA

2021:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Gabriel Aguilar - Puerto Rico & Texas
Oscar Cardona - Puerto Rico & Texas
Josie Chapa - Puerto Rico & Texas
Dakota Moberg - Puerto Rico & Texas
Erick Zamora - Puerto Rico & Texas

2019:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Justin Briones - Columbia, MO
Kristina Cardenas - Davis, CA
Adam Fonner - Russell, KS
Tessa Green - Holdrege, KS
Jennifer Mendez - Beaver, OK
Mercedes Ortega - Concordia, KS
Ayla Rangel - St. Peters, MO
Yolanda Reyes - Logan, UT
Nathan Young - Sheridan, WY
Carlos Cavazos - Puerto Rico & Texas
Tori Davis - Puerto Rico & Texas
Tenley Housler - Puerto Rico & Texas
Alexander Meza - Puerto Rico & Texas
Derek Solis - Puerto Rico & Texas

2018:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Julia Burchsted - Kirksville, MO
Scott Cardenas - Columbia, MO
Rae Deherrera - Logan, UT
Isabella Farias - Sioux City, IA
Miranda Farias - Boise, ID
Gilberto Hurtado - Afton, WY
Taylor McKinney - Liberal, KS
Travis Opiela - Scottsbluff, NE
Erika Rodriguez - Casper, WY
Adrianne Sullivan - Cherokee, OK

2017:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Lazaro Bazaldua - Riverton, WY
David Campbell--Many, LA
Victoria Gutierrez - Tremonton, UT
Cassidy Hoyle - Columbia, MO
Sandra Reyes - Holdrege, NE
Doss Summers - Boise, ID

M-SPEAL

2023:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Erik Velazquez - Premont, TX
Myrka Gonzalez - Sinton, TX
Brianna Gonzalez - Sinton, TX
Nayery Rocha - Mission, TX
Aaliyah Garcia - Colombia, South America
Mariangels Gonzalez - Colombia, South America
Julia Warren - Colombia, South America
Caitlin Willson - Colombia, South America

2022:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Aaliyah Garcia - Premont, TX
Mary Godfrey - Sinton, TX
Mariangels Gonzalez - Brenham, TX
Julia Warren - Falfurrias, TX
Caitlin Wilson - Premont, TX
Margarita Aguero - Colombia, South America
Brianna Gonzalez - Colombia, South America
Myrka Gonzalez - Colombia, South America
Nayery Rocha - Colombia, South America
Erik Velazquez - Colombia, South America

Drone WAVE FACTOR

2023:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Cynthia Martinez - Temple, TX
Rosemarie Odvina - Corpus Christi, TX
Miranda Shaffer - Temple, TX
Angelica Sosa - Corpus Christi and Beeville, TX
Julia Warren - Kingsville

2022:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Sasha Arias - Kingsville, TX
Jessica Johnston - Kingsville, TX
Jessica Rogers - Kingsville, TX
Kimberly Tanguma - Kingsville, TX
Vianka Trevino - Kingsville, TX

Connecting the Dots

2023:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Jose Buentello - Mexico
Kayla Garza - Mexico
Sarah Godwin - Mexico
Seth Kuby - Mexico
Carolina Munoz - Mexico
Taylor Nelson - Mexico
Emilio Ramos - Mexico
Marissa Trevino - Mexico
Zuleyma Zometa - Mexico

100K Strong in the Americas

2023:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Abraham Alvarez - Brazil
Eva Morgan - Brazil
Gabriella Ruiz - Brazil

START NOW

2021:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Jocelinne Benavidez - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX
Arianna Cantu - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX
Victor Castorena - Costa Rica & Weslaco, TX
Autumn Coronado - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX
Leylani Garcia - Costa Rica & TX
Sabrina Garza - Costa Rica & Weslaco, TX
Zoelina Gonzalez - Costa Rica & TX
Alexander Meza - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX
Victoria Mossman-Fuentes - Costa Rica & Edinburg, TX
Hanna Sorenson - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX
Lindsey Howard - Kingsville, TX
John Herschberger - Kingsville, TX
Gina Merzbacher - Kingsville, TX
Eve Schrader - Namibia, Africa

2019:  Student Name - Career Experience Locatoin

Annalysa Camacho - Costa Rica & Montana
Cristina Castellano - Beltsville, MD
Cynthia Covarrubias - Laredo, TX
Desiderio De Leon - Costa Rica & Montana
Leslie Dominguez - Laredo, TX
Julio Menchaca - Uvalde, TX
Ashley Mondragon - Rosenberg, TX
Jonah Trevino - Kingsville, TX
Allison Watts - Costa Rica & Montana

2018:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Leslie Dominguez - Costa Rica
Michaela Elber - Beltsville, MD
Christopher Flores-Lopez - Costa Rica
Michael Gonzales - Houston, TX
Zachary Hamaker - Washington, D.C.
Ashley Mondragon - Costa Rica
Gudalupe Rodriguez - Robstown, TX
Nikki Sandigde - Kerville, TX
Jonah Trevino - Washington, D.C.

2017:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Weston Burns - Costa Rica
Gerardo Mata - Laredo, TX
Elisha Palomo - Rosenberg, TX
Cynthia Puente - Costa Rica
Valerie Ruiz - Eagle Pass, TX
Jonah Trevino - Costa Rica

UAS

2021:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Carlos Hurtado - Corpus Christi, TX
William McCollum - Corpus Christi, TX
Clayton Moore - Corpus Christi, TX
Daniel Ramirez - Corpus Christi, TX
Larry Santos - Corpus Christi, TX
Elizabeth Solano - Weslaco, TX
Hector Soto - Corpus Christi, TX
Daniela Urbano - Corpus Christi, TX

2019:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Hunter Carroll - Fort Worth, TX
Virgilio Gomez - Corpus Christi, TX
Jesus Lopez - Weslaco, TX
Victoria Trevino - Weslaco, TX

2018:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

David Esparza - Corpus Christi, TX
Julio Gutierrez - Corpus Christi, TX
Michael Page - Dallas, TX
Elsa Wiley - Weslaco, TX

2017:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Eutimio Alaniz - Corpus Christi, TX
Christopher Flores-Lopez - Weslaco, TX
Christina Lee - Corpus Christi, TX
Guadalupe Rodriguez - Corpus Christi, TX
George Thomas III - Beltsville, MD

STEP 2

2019:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Mark Belew - Kingsville, TX
Robin Cheek - Clay Center, NE
Andrea Companian - Clay Center, NE
Jason Loghry - Alaska
Gisel Mireles - Beltsville, MD
Cailin Wong-Jaramillo - Beltsville, MD
Rory Vineyard - Kingsville, TX

2018:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Miguel Cervantes - Clay Center, NE
Su-yin Davison - Caracal, Botswana
Cody Hay - Texas
Recca Heiner - Carcal, Botswana
Richard Kaiser - Caracal, Botswana
Nina Lazaro - Kingsville, TX
Valerie Ruiz - Beltsville, MD
Miranda Tellez - Fort Collins, CO

2017:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Jorge Chavarria - Beltsville, MD
Arlene Cortez - Fort Collins, CO
Dominique Hernandez - Beltsville, MD
Kole Jean - Fayetteville, TN
Miriam Rico - Beltsville, MD

WHEELS OF CHANGE

2019:  Student Name - Career Experience Location

Arianna Cantu - Linn, TX
Nora Carrillo - Beltsville, MD
Shelby Davis - Victoria, TX
Juan Elissetche - Alamo, TX
Gabriela Garcia - Port La Vaca, TX
Daisy Gonzalez - Puerto Rico
Richard Hernandez - Weslaco, TX
Kaitlyn Hessek - Pilot Point, TX
Autum Hooker - Namibia, Africa
Bradley Johnston - Corvallis, OR
Kayla Milam - Laredo, TX
Leanna Morin - Corvallis, OR
Daniela Nieves - Beltsville, MD
Pablo Ramos - Corpus Christi, TX
Isabel Valdez - Taft, TX

2018:  Student Names - Career Experience Location

Jeanette Casanova - Weslaco, TX
Crisantos Casares - Weslaco, TX
Jacqueline Cruz - Kingsville, TX
Kendrah De Leon - Beltsville, MD
Guadalupe Garza - Lexington, NE
Matthew Garza - Weslaco, TX
Joe Gonzalez - Fort Collings, CO & Vermont
Nathanael Hernandez - Galveston, TX
Hyden Kovar - Fort Collins, CO
Lupita Leon - Taft, TX
Marco Urive - Texas
Loerena Villanueva - Beltsville, MD

2017:  Student Names - Career Experience Location

Alexandrea Almazan - Beltsville, MD
Andrea Castillo - New Braunfels, TX
Hallie Davis - Raymondville, TX
Ashley De La Torre - Beltsville, MD
Gabriella Garcia - Florida
Perla Liscano - Austin, TX
Raelene Mendez - Weslaco, TX
Kassandra Montes - Edinburg, TX
Spencer Smith - Robstown, TX
Dagan Teague - Weslaco, TX
Matthew Townsend - Kingsville, TX
Shelbie van Beveren - Scandia, MN