Graduate students from various disciplines work with the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education to advance the mission of the center. Graduate students assist with data collection, academic writing, and outreach. Learn more about students who work with the center as the center showcases students’ experiences.
Peyton Beattie
Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Graduate student
Peyton Beattie began working on PIE Center projects during Fall 2016 and has worked on multiple projects since then. Beattie is studying extension education in the agricultural education and communication department at the University of Florida and will graduate in May of 2018.
Beattie started working on the PIE Center’s efforts with the citrus greening project soon after she started her graduate program in Fall 2016. Today, she is working on two additional projects with the PIE Center.
Beattie appreciates many different aspects of the PIE Center, including the opportunities and the people.
“The PIE Center gives me the opportunity to conduct awesome research on the public perceptions on various topics in agriculture and natural resources and speak with people about the research that I have done at conferences around the country,” Beattie said. “I also have the opportunity to work with such amazing researchers in the fields that I am so passionate about – agricultural communication and extension.”
Beattie says the PIE Center has positively impacted her graduate experience.
“I began graduate school with no research experience and working with the PIE Center has provided me with incredible opportunities to learn, conduct, and present research on various topics,” Beattie said.
After completing her Master’s degree, Beattie plans to pursue a PhD in agricultural communication.
“I hope to work within the Extension system to help Extension agents communicate with their local communities about agriculture,” Beattie said.
