Career Path of an Agricultural Economist at California Department of Food and Agriculture
Miranda's career path began with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Economics, complemented by diverse internships at "Alter Solar," the University Arboretum, and the California EPA and Air Resources Board, focusing on "environmental work" and data collection. Following a rigorous master's degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis, Miranda secured their current position at the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Environmental Studies, Agricultural Economics, Internships, Data Collection, Public Service
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Miranda Townsend
Agricultural Economist
California Department of Food and Agriculture
UC Santa Cruz, 2020
UC Davis, Agricultural and Resource Economics Masters Program
Environmental & Related Sciences
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, Government & Public Sector
Research and Development (R&D)
Pell Grant Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Miranda earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Economics, followed by a Master's in Agricultural and Resource Economics.
2. She gained valuable experience through internships at various organizations, including a solar power company, the University Arboretum, and the California EPA.
3. Miranda emphasizes the rigor of her master's program, highlighting the dedication required for such an advanced degree and suggesting that students plan accordingly for a demanding workload
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
Absolutely. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Economics from UC Santa Cruz in 2020. During my time in undergrad, I completed several student internships in various fields.
I did fieldwork and ecological data collection as a student intern for my Environmental Studies department. I also interned at a local solar power company called Alter Solar in Santa Cruz.
Additionally, I worked at the University Arboretum, again as a student intern, doing data collection. I was also a student intern at the California EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency.
That was a summer job, working for the California Air Resources Board, doing environmental work. I was in their environmental justice unit for the summer.
After undergrad, I attended UC Davis and earned my master's degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics in 2021. It was a rigorous one-year program, so I didn't have the capacity to work or intern during that time.
Following my master's program, I searched for jobs for a few months and then landed my current position.