Ambassadors
Meet our 2023-2024 CAES Ambassadors
Anna Clifton
Anna Clifton is a second-year Agribusiness and Agricultural and Applied Economics student from Statesboro, Georgia. She is a third-generation AgDawg! She grew up cheering on the Dawgs in football, basketball, and gymnastics (to name a few) and even attended basketball camps here for three summers. There was no doubt in her mind that UGA was where she wanted to spend her college years. She became an ambassador to share with other students her passion for CAES and all that college offers to make our students’ experiences better. She wants to share with prospective students that you don’t have to fit a certain description or type to find a major in CAES that suits you and that you will enjoy! Anna thinks the best part about being an ambassador is being entrusted with representing the college at various levels, whether with alumni, prospective students, or faculty. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career in agricultural policy.
Olivia Cook
Olivia Cook is from Dublin, Georgia. and she knew she wanted to follow in her dad and brother's footprints to UGA. During her senior year of high school, she had the opportunity to visit CAES during the Rural Scholars weekend. At this weekend event, she was able to meet and talk with many CAES Ambassadors. At the time Olivia was undecided, but after the weekend she knew she wanted to be in CAES and become an Ambassador. The best part about being an ambassador is getting to know students and having the opportunity to talk to prospective students. She loves talking about her experiences and her passion for the college! She hopes to graduate with an undergraduate degree in Agribusiness and then pursue law school.
Kinsey Cooper
Kinsey Cooper is from Montrose, Georgia, a little town outside of Dublin. Her mom went to UGA and she was raised a dawg fan. When the opportunity arose for her to ride on the University's Equestrian team, she had to take it. She came to school here to ride horses, but also to study Agribusiness at one of the best agricultural programs in the nation. She feels so lucky to be at UGA and there are no better days than Saturdays in Sanford Stadium, or a meet day with her team in Bishop, Ga., where the Equestrian Team Complex is located.. For Kinsey, it has been such a privilege to be able to serve as an ambassador, and most enjoyable meeting with prospective students and helping them explore all UGA has to offer. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and either work as an attorney or in policy.
Maya Dubos
Maya Dubos is from Acworth, GA, and she knew she wanted to study hospitality management. CAES looked like it had a really interesting brand-new program for that major within AAEC. It turned out to be a perfect fit for Maya, and she is so glad she took a chance on it! Maya came to UGA as a transfer and knows that can be a daunting experience, but the students, staff, and faculty within CAES are some of the kindest, most welcoming people she ever has had the pleasure of working with. They’re the reason she became a student ambassador, and now she gets to help others feel welcomed and hopefully find their place in CAES as well. Currently, she works as an event planner in Athens and would love to continue this path after graduation. She loves working with so many interesting people, and every day is something different and exciting!
Katie Gilk
Katie Gilk is from Marietta, Georgia, and throughout high school was very interested in the environment. When she got to UGA, she decided to pick the Environmental Economics and Management major and now is super excited to be an ambassador for the college! Since becoming an ambassador, she has enjoyed many amazing opportunities, getting involved and meeting great people. Outside of CAES, she is very involved with UGA Mock Trial and is a member of the executive board. In the future, Katie hopes to either attend graduate school for her environmental economics degree or work for a sustainable company out of college!
Michael Howard
Michael Howard is from Hartwell, Georgia, and always thought he would end up being a Bulldog, but began to truly appreciate the university and college when he got involved with CAES. Being an ambassador has given Michael the opportunity to share with prospective and established students all the college has to offer while being an advocate for his classmates and peers. Outside of being an ambassador, he is involved in Block & Bridle, Young Farmers & Ranchers, BCM, and enjoys anything outdoors and on the water! In addition to Michael's extracurricular activities, he is double majoring in Agribusiness and Agricultural & Applied Economics, minoring in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State, and hopes to attend law school so he can serve as an advocate for the agricultural industry.
Justin Loedding
Justin Loedding is from Dawsonville, GA majoring in Agribusiness and Agricultural & Applied Economics. He always knew he wanted to attend the University of Georgia, but did not see himself ending up in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "That was easily the best decision I’ve made for my future," says Justin. The relationships he has made with faculty and students truly emphasize that CAES is just one big family. His favorite part about the agriculture industry is the never-ending opportunities. He had the opportunity to intern this past summer with Archer Daniels Midland in St. Louis on the Mississippi River, learning about grain and oilseed markets and supply chains. He hopes to use this information to help farmers hedge their crops against the markets to secure more consistent incomes. He is now learning even more while getting his master's in Agribusiness.
Lynes McKinney
Lynes McKinney is from Statesboro, Georgia, and growing up, he spent every chance he got at his family farm, which developed his true passion for Georgia agriculture. When applying to college, he knew he wanted to work in agriculture, so CAES was the main reason he chose UGA. As soon as Lynes arrived at UGA, CAES felt like home, and he knew that he made the right decision. However, after two years of being heavily involved in Greek life, he wanted to find a way to become more involved in CAES, so he decided to apply for the ambassador program. Since becoming an ambassador, he realized it was one of the best decisions he had ever made. Not only has the ambassador program provided a whole new group of friends, but has even further deepened his passion for Georgia agriculture. Once he graduates, Lynes will pursue a Master’s degree in Agribusiness through our department.
Nate McKinney
Nate McKinney is from Athens, GA, and can confidently say there is no finer place in the land than the UGA campus! One of his favorite things to do is serve as an ambassador with so many close friends. He also loves morning runs through campus and reflecting on tailgates with his family. Nate has learned so much by being an ambassador and it has given him the opportunity to enrich his knowledge about South campus, giving tours to prospective students, which is always an honor taking someone on their first walk of south campus, teaching the history of Conner Hall, Lumpkin House, and many other sites.
Grayson Swindell
Grayson Jay Swindell is a third-year student from Claxton, Georgia studying Agribusiness and Agricultural and Applied Economics. He has been a Georiga Bulldog fan since he was young and always wanted to attend the University of Georgia. His favorite thing to do at UGA is attend football games. He also loves spending time with his friends in UGA Young Farmers and Ranchers, UGA Block and Bridle, UGA Ducks Unlimited, and Alpha Gamma Rho. He has a great appreciation for our college and for what we provide for the future of agriculture. He chose to become an ambassador to help recruit prospective students and represent the college and department. Grayson plans to attend graduate school here at UGA or apply to law school. No matter what career option he may have in the future, he plans to continue to advocate for agriculture and everything it offers to our world.
Not pictured: Pope Arline, Reilly Grady