Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES 3/22/22


The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Agricultural Institute (AGI) are increasing their efforts to expand awareness of their two-year degree programs. AGI recently brought on alumna Kaylee Gabriel whose role focuses on enhancing recruitment efforts and boosting student enrollment at the institute.

The new position gives the institute greater leverage to concentrate its recruiting efforts as she tackles existing initiatives and forges ahead with new ones.

“The main goal is to increase enrollment and knowledge of AGI,” Gabriel explains. “People in our office say that AGI is the best-kept secret. My responsibility is making us more well-known and networking.” 

This includes building awareness locally: “I went to high school 30 minutes from NC State’s campus, and I didn’t even know that AGI [existed]. We need to bridge those gaps.”

Gabriel began her role with AGI in January 2022 equipped with a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a concentration in industry and business and a minor in agricultural business and management from NC State University. 

Though Gabriel didn’t grow up on a farm, she developed an interest in agriculture while in high school. She was the FFA vice president for her high school chapter, and, during the summers, she raised turkeys to show at the NC State Fair. 

During her college career at NC State, Gabriel volunteered in swine research. Following graduation, she worked at Central Crops Research Station as a swine research technician while assisting with a variety of row crop commodities. 

A year and a half later, she landed at Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory in the swine education unit, managing the nursery and finishing barns. Her time at the facility granted her the opportunity to work alongside CALS students and guide their activities in the labs. Teaching the ins and outs of pig production provided valuable experience as a mentor, ultimately leading her toward recruiting. She relates to students who, like her, don’t have a farming background.

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