Who in the world is the CFAES Alumni Society Board?

Brutus Sandiego

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Alumni Society Board represents the voice of all alumni of the college. The board serves as a resource for all relations between college alumni and The Ohio State University Alumni Association and has representatives from every academic department, every region of Ohio, from out of state, and from the last three graduating classes. The group meets quarterly in addition to holding events throughout the year.

Get to know a few of our board members each month.

Kelsie SchwynKelsie Schwyn, Ohio-at-Large Representative 

’16 BSAGR Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Director of Strategic Partnerships and Nationwide Services, Ohio Farm Bureau 

Q: What is your favorite thing about being on the CFAES Alumni Society Board? 

A: As a new board member, I have enjoyed meeting other board members virtually and learning about their backgrounds and careers. It’s a diverse group, and I’m really looking forward to working with them for the next three years!

Q: What is your favorite memory from CFAES? 

A: My favorite memory from CFAES is an ambassador trip to Arizona. We had a great group of ambassadors, and we got to learn about agriculture in a drier climate. It was a fun trip, and I have a lot of great memories from it.


Nicky GallagherNicky Gallagher, Department of Entomology Representative 

03 MS Entomology, ’10 PhD Entomology

Technical Manager, Syngenta, Professional Solutions

Q: What is your favorite thing about being on the CFAES Alumni Society Board? 

A: Entomology is a fairly new member of CFAES, and it has been a great privilege to represent the department. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to build new connections with all the board members, as well as faculty and staff within CFAES. I believe entomology is a natural fit for this college, and the opportunities for collaborations across CFAES seem immense. The leadership within the board is dedicated, engaging, and focused on providing the best resources and connections to the university. I feel lucky to be a small part of their team. I’m looking forward to seeing the CFAES entomology alumni family grow. Go Bugs!

Q: Tell us a bit about what you like to do when you are not at work.  

A: My husband and I are a bit obsessed with gardening. We are always adding new plants (or rearranging) and trying to find new areas to plant in. At some point we will run out of room, but we are not quite there yet. We have everything from orchids, bananas, carnivorous plants, and more. I’m thinking of naming the garden “Cultivated Chaos.” We love it, though. It brings us great joy and peace. My family also likes to camp. As a family of biologists, we have a great fondness for the outdoors. Our adventures include a lot of fishing, birding, bug hunting, and also herping.

For more about the CFAES Alumni Society Board, click here.