AFRI Mentors

2023 RI Agriculture and Food Systems Fellows Program
Mentor Placement Descriptions
Last updated 10/24/22 

URI Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Brown
Fellowship Location: South Kingstown, RI
Preferred student skills and interests: Communications, plant science, sustainable agriculture, biological
sciences, environmental sustainability, data management.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will be responsible for helping to communicate the work of the URI Vegetable Production Program to farmers and the general public. The work will require interviewing and shadowing the URI faculty and staff to learn about their research projects, and then develop content for products including, but not limited to factsheets, videos and podcast recordings that can be shared. Some products will include summarized research data, while others may be more narrative.

URI Department of Fisheries and Animal Veterinary Sciences Mentor: Dr. Katherine Petersson
Fellowship Location: South Kingstown, RI
Preferred student skills and interests: Communications, animal and veterinary science, sustainable
agriculture, biological sciences, sustainability, data management, Spanish language proficiency (not required).
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will support an online and in-person educational program on
management of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and goats for producers. The position will require a variety of tasks, including email correspondence with program participants, some hands-on animal work, data management, participation in small ruminant producer workshops, and the development of outreach materials appropriate for diverse audiences. The Fellow would also become proficient in the management of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and goats at URI’s Peckham Farm.

URI Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program Mentor: Dr. Amanda Missimer
Fellowship Location: South Kingstown, RI
Preferred student skills and interests: Nutrition, food science, food safety, education, communications,
sustainable agriculture, sustainability, biological sciences.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will work with community-based nutrition educators to share
information about preparing and cooking nutritious food, managing resources and food safety with a culturally diverse audience through demonstration, workshops, video production and factsheets. The student will gain experience working on a federally-funded nutrition education program that serves underserved populations.

Aquidneck Community Table Mentor: Mary-Kate Kane
Fellowship Location: Newport, RI
Preferred student skills and interests: Communications, marketing, plant sciences, entomology,
environmental science, sustainability, environmental management, sustainable agriculture, biology, education.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will put theory into practice by participating in sustainable agriculture and permaculture while connecting people to the land on Aquidneck Island. The Fellow will learn about climate-smart agriculture while exploring holistic ways to transform a broken food system to be more equitable, resilient, and regenerative. This position is best suited for a self-motivated student seeking experience in sustainable agriculture, community outreach, and/or youth education with an interest in developing hands-on growing (e.g. vegetables) and communication skills (e.g. writing, public speaking).

Ocean Hour Farm Mentor: Beth Alaimo
Fellowship Location: Newport, RI
Preferred student skills and interests: Animal science, textiles, fashion merchandising and design,
sustainability -or- soil science, biology, plant science, environmental science, sustainability, environmental management, sustainable agriculture, natural resources sciences, landscape design.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will work on a project related to livestock, fiber and textiles or soil
science, depending on their skills and interests. This position is best suited for a student with a passion and interest in the natural environment and sustainability, ecosystem monitoring, fiber production and textiles or soil science and landscape design.

Farm Fresh RI Mentor: Natasha Argenio
Location: Providence, RI
Student interests and skills: Food sciences, nutrition, plant sciences, environmental science, sustainability, environmental management, sustainable agriculture, biology, education, communications
Position Description: This fellowship is best suited for a student passionate about the local food system and strengthening it by assisting Farm Fresh’s Market Mobile team and commercial growers with food safety related challenges. This student will work with the team to help improve food safety efforts and implementation of good and safe practices to provide the highest quality food for Farm Fresh RI customers.

PVD Office of Healthy Communities Mentor: Rachel Newman Greene
Location: Providence, RI (Hybrid)
Student skills and interests: Public health, sustainable agriculture, food systems, health studies, Nutrition,
environmental studies, public administration or other related policy area, urban policy, urban agriculture,
municipal operations, school meals or land use.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will work at the health policy and promotion office in Providence
municipal government on projects such as Lots of Hope to help identify city-owned lots for development as urban farms, City of Providence public school district Farm to School to assist with plan to improve of school gardens, and increasing purchasing and serving of local agriculture and fishery products. The work may be performed remotely, with regular visits to Providence municipal offices and site visits throughout the city.

CommerceRI Food Strategy Mentor: Julianne Stelmaszyk
Location: Providence, RI (Hybrid)
Student skills and interests: Food systems, economics, food policy, strategic planning, community
stakeholder engagement, research, writing, communications skills, public speaking, meeting facilitation.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will work to support the Director of Food Strategy, state agencies
partners and food policy leaders to update the State Food Strategy 2.0, a system used to help achieve
economic development, environmental sustainability and health equity. Fellows will also work closely with the Director of Food Strategy to support activities related to updating the Relish Rhody food strategy where they will learn how to facilitate meetings and strategic planning events.

RI Department of Environmental Management / Division of Agriculture Mentor: Ananda Fraser
Location: Providence, RI (Remote)
Students skills & Interests: plant sciences, communication and analytical skills, Microsoft suite and adobe, field experience, entomology, environmental science, sustainability, environmental management, sustainable agriculture, biology, food science, nutrition, and policy.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow best suited will work to develop and practice communications and agricultural science skills and learn to navigate the evolving world of on-farm food safety with a strong emphasis on how regulations can be applied in small scale or beginning farms, typical of the North Eastern US. This is an opportunity for those interested in applied policy and developing public speaking and critical thinking skills.

Eastern Region Conservation District AgInnovation Farm Mentor: Sara Churgin
Location: Tiverton, RI (Hybrid)
Student skills and interest: Environmental science, sustainability, climate resilience and education,
farming/gardening, community garden, seasonal high tunnel, agriculture, helping to save the planet, and
working with kids.
Position Description: The AFS Fellow will work specifically with the AgrInnovation Farm, 5 acre farm
established by ERICD and the Portsmouth Middle School. The fellow will work with students to problem solve and participate in outreach events with landowners to assist in educating them about natural resource concerns and best management practices for land stewardship.