UK program grows future leaders, professionals through teaching, mentorship

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 18, 2025) — The University of Kentucky offers a unique program at the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) that bridges leadership, mentorship and teaching to prepare students to meet the current workforce development needs in Kentucky.

Launched in the fall of 2022, the Peer Instructor program and correlating course, AFE 330, is open to all Martin-Gatton CAFE students who have completed the Issues in Agriculture, Food and Environment course (AFE 100), meet the academic success standards, and have a willingness to learn and grow.

“I decided to apply for the position because I wanted to guide incoming freshman and help them acclimate to their new environment,” said Brooke Hall, a community and leadership development junior. “I attended my class’s meetings during the week to develop icebreakers, answer questions, facilitate class discussion and support my instructor. I would also attend a class meeting for the current cohort of peer instructors to examine and enhance our leadership skills.”

Students work with their AFE 330 instructors and program coordinators, Savannah Robin and Rebecca Dobbs to complete learning modules that help grow their skills inside and outside of the classroom.

“Getting students outside their comfort zones and realizing their potential in new areas has served as a confidence builder for many of our students, regardless of their backgrounds or interests,” Dobbs said. “Seeing the growth and confidence students have from the beginning versus the end of the program is incredible.”

In the AFE 330 Peer Instructor program, students are supported with a hands-on teaching position that allows them to grow their leadership capacity, conflict management skills, communication and collaboration, relationship building, career growth planning and a variety of other transferable skills.

“Being an AFE 100 peer instructor was my first leadership experience in my college career,” said Stephen Parido, an agriculture economics junior. “While there was a learning curve at the start, these skills have helped prepare me for my field in the real world.”

In the fall of 2024, peer instructors also had the opportunity to host and moderate a panel of livestock industry leaders. This provided a class-based field trip experience for the AFE 100 students and an additional leadership and networking opportunity for the peer instructors. The peer instructors were responsible for facilitating the event, from developing the interview questions, to introducing and moderating the panel.

Peer instructors not only serve to support and mentor their fellow students but will collaborate with the other peer instructors along within the AFE 330 cohort. This course is designed to build transferable skills and support various career pathways beyond agriculture. Additionally, this course satisfies the experiential learning requirement for the agricultural leadership certificate. 

Angelina Sonoqui, an equine science and management junior, participated in the second AFE 330 cohort in 2023.

“Being in this group of peer instructors was a unique experience that allowed me to practice public speaking and gain confidence speaking on topics I am passionate about and hope to advocate for in my future career,” Sonoqui said.

To learn more and how to apply to become an AFE 100 Peer Instructor at Martin-Gatton CAFE, visit https://students.ca.uky.edu/AFE100-Peer. For the Fall 2025 cohort, the deadline to apply is March 3.