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| Recent graduate Chyanna McGee is currently pursuing a Master's of Science Degree in Plant Pathology at Penn State. |
Baton Rouge, La. – Chyanna McGee, a Spring
2019 Southern University graduate of the Department of Urban Forestry and Natural Resources in the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences, is
currently pursuing a Master's of Science degree in Plant Pathology; specializing
in plant disease management at Pennsylvania State University in State College,
Pennsylvania.
McGee said she decided to come to Southern
University and major in Urban Forestry as a trial and error decision she made
with her dad.
“My dad graduated from Southern University
many years ago with a degree in Agricultural Economics. I wanted to be a
teacher, but he insisted that I did Urban Forestry and if I didn't like it after
my first year that I could change my major,” said Chyanna. “He then took me to
meet Dr. Zhu Ning, my departmental advisor, who then promised that I could be a
member of her research team my first summer researching in Shenyang, China. I,
of course, accepted the invitation and by the end of my freshman year I grew to
love the Urban Forestry Department and also "The Ag Family," she
added.
During her time at Southern, Chyanna has held
numerous leadership positions ranging from serving as president of the Urban
Forestry Club, to president of Southern University’s Minorities in Agriculture,
Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Chapter, as well as
Vice-President of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
Incorporated. Along with these leadership roles she is also one of the founding
members of Southern University’s Society of American Foresters (SAF) Chapter. All
of this was done while maintaining a 3.3 grade point average by the time she
graduated.
She said her experiences at Southern will
enable her to be excel at Penn State.
“While at Southern University I had the
opportunity to fully immerse myself in the subject matter, work on projects and
research, and also held numerous leadership positions,” expressed Chyanna. “I had
the opportunity to learn alongside bright young leader and even travel to
conferences to meet industry leaders which lead me to internships and other
opportunities. I established a home at Southern University and was able to be a
part of the "Ag Family," which opened the doors to graduate school
visits and is solely the reason that I decided to continue my education.
Southern University’s College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences has
molded me into the student, leader, and scholar I am today,” Chyanna said
proudly.
After receiving her master’s, McGee plans to
continue her education by working on a Ph.D. in Botany either at Penn State or
another accredited university. She said her goal is to use her advanced degree
to help sustain crop production and find ways to use medicinal plants, starting
with a health/beauty line to add to her business, “The GirlZ CloZet."
Chyanna, who is a native of Baton Rouge and graduate of McKinley Senior High School, is the daughter of Theora Tyrone and
Gerald McGee.
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