Service & Leadership
Agricultural Extension and Education
While working in a horticulture lab, I assisted with various extension efforts including field days, workshops, and writing articles for an extension audience. Below, my authored and co-authored educational materials are linked.​​
“Summer Gardening to Support Pollinators” LSU AgCenter Horticulture Hints, Summer 2024
“Classy Camellias: A Delightful Winter Ornamental for Every Garden” LSU AgCenter Horticulture Hints, Winter 2023
Fontenot, K., Huddleston, A., Holzapfel, A., Leiva, D., Rozhentsev, K. “Cut Flowers for Farm Production” series, August 2023
Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
ACT officers recruiting members at an LSU College of Agriculture event. Image used with permission from Annabelle Lang.
​Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) aims to enhance science communication skills and provide professional development for students in agricultural fields. I took on a leadership role by helping to reinstate the LSU chapter of ACT, where I was elected vice president. My team and I organized initiatives like a LinkedIn workshop, "developing your elevator pitch" workshop, and informational sessions for conference opportunities. One of my goals as vice president in ACT was to uplift underrepresented groups in agriculture, particularly women, who have been historically excluded from leadership positions in agriculture.
Peer Tutoring
Through LSU's Center for Academic Success, I provided peers with free tutoring services in first year biology, chemistry, and sociology subjects. To provide a better learning experience, I attended additional professional development opportunities and attained a level 1 tutor certification through the College Reading and Learning Association's International Tutor Training Program Certification.
Science Outreach
K-12 Outreach:
One of my favorite science outreach experiences was volunteering with Louisiana Sea Grant's annual Ocean Commotion event.​ I helped run a station where students could see aquatic insects up close using an iPad-connected electronic microscope, offering a hands-on learning moment about mosquito lifecycles and the use of laboratory equipment.
Assisted students with using an electronic microscope to magnify small aquatic organisms.
Community Gardening:
Another science outreach effort was supporting LSU's community garden through my horticulture research work. The campus community garden, a free resource for students, enhanced access to fresh, nutritious produce while creating a welcoming space for students to connect with one another in nature. I contributed by distributing free plants and seeds, teaching effective horticultural practices, and assisting with maintenance tasks such as weeding and irrigation, ensuring the garden was user-friendly for those with limited gardening experience.
With a group of volunteers, I built more garden beds to expand the community garden and include more students.