Name: Allyson Abbas
Major: Animal science, agricultural business
Graduation year: 2024
Current job title and company/organization: Wayne County youth program coordinator with Iowa State Extension and Outreach
What moment or experience at Iowa State most shaped your career path?
I didn’t naturally fall into my role after graduation. In fact, my career path took some time to take shape. However, the impact my professors, advisors and college teammates had on me during my time at Iowa State played a huge role in helping me realize what I wanted to pursue. I was surrounded by people who genuinely cared about being great educators, mentors and teammates. They wanted to see the people around them grow and succeed, and that mindset really stuck with me. It made me realize that I wanted an education-focused career—but not necessarily one that was limited to a traditional classroom. Today, I have the opportunity to combine my passion for agriculture, career development and STEM through K-12 education, while also fostering 4-H involvement. What I love most is watching young people discover their interests, work toward their goals and find their own path. Whether it’s a big accomplishment or simply being the person who listens and helps them take the next step, I’m grateful that my Iowa State experience helped me recognize how much I enjoy investing in others.
How did your involvement in clubs, internships or research opportunities at Iowa State prepare you for your current role?
My involvement with the Iowa State Rodeo Club and Team played a huge role in preparing me for my current career. Rodeo and agriculture are constantly in the public eye, so I learned how to communicate naturally with people of all ages and backgrounds. From organizing industry tours and creating marketing materials to helping host one of the largest student-run rodeos in the nation, I learned how to balance multiple projects, deadlines and relationships—skills I use every day in Extension. Becoming a transfer student animal science peer mentor also pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I gained experience organizing a class, developing mock lesson plans and learning how to connect with students in a meaningful way. Some of those students have since become close friends and professional connections, which showed me the lasting impact educators can have beyond the classroom. As a transfer student from a small local college, Southwestern Community College, I also challenged myself to pursue a variety of internship opportunities in animal nutrition and feed, seed science, marketing and communications, and agricultural insurance. Each experience exposed me to a different side of agriculture and helped me become a well-rounded professional. Together, these opportunities prepared me for the variety of agriculture, education and outreach I am fortunate to be involved in today.
What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your education or career, and how did you overcome it?
You have to be receptive to feedback. Feedback in college can look very different from feedback in a professional setting, and learning to embrace both the strengths and weaknesses it brings has been one of the most valuable lessons in my career. It took me some time to recognize that constantly growing is a strength, not a weakness. Exploring professional development opportunities, adapting to change and actively seeking feedback have all played a major role in my growth. Be excited to learn what you can improve, recognize what you are doing well, and never stop looking for ways to become better.
Fill in the blank and provide a brief explanation: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without ______.”
“… the connections I made along the way.” From meeting a recruiter at CALS Career Day, to having a legislator speak in Dr. Skaar’s senior-level lecture, to the academic advisors who guided me, peers who are now directors at companies, and friends I’ve made throughout the industry—you truly never know who you are going to meet and when you are going to give them another call. I’m thankful for the people Iowa State brought into my life and for those who continue to showcase the opportunities within agriculture, support one another and make our industry better every day.
Fill in the blank: “The best piece of advice I received in college was _________, and here’s why it stuck with me: _________.”
Everything happens for a reason - I heard this many times from my academic advisors Kelsey Powell, Jennifer Bundy, Ann Kolhoff and Lauren Pierce, and it became a reminder to trust the process. College and post-graduation are full of highs and lows—from an internship you didn’t get to a disappointing grade or an opportunity falling through. We naturally want everything to go according to plan, but I’ve learned to take setbacks as a blessing, trust that there is a reason behind them, and ride it out. More often than not, things work out in ways you never expected.