The Agricultural Economics Graduate Student Organization (AE-GSO) plays a vital role in supporting graduate students pursuing M.S., M.A.B., and Ph.D. degrees in the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida.
AE-GSO helps make FRE a home for its students not only during their time pursuing higher education, but also as they prepare for life after graduation.
Recently, their commitment was recognized by the UF Office of Student Involvement with the “Lifelong Learner – Excellence in Career Readiness” award, celebrating their outstanding efforts.
“Receiving the nomination for the ‘Lifelong Learner – Excellence in Career Readiness’ award was both an honor and a deeply meaningful validation of the work we’ve poured into AE-GSO over the years,” said Faith Aiya, Outgoing AE-GSO President. “This recognition isn’t just about one event or one person, it’s about the collective effort of a team that truly believes in supporting graduate students beyond academics”
Faith has benefited firsthand from the professional development and leadership growth she has experienced through the organization, both as an M.S. student and now as she pursues her Ph.D. in Food and Resource Economics.
Throughout her four years in AE-GSO, she has served in many roles, first as a Master’s student representative, then as Secretary and Vice President of Socials before ultimately serving as the President this year.
“My involvement in AE-GSO has been one of the most transformative parts of my graduate experience,” Faith said. “When I joined as a master’s student representative in 2021, I never imagined how much I would grow personally, professionally, and as a leader. Each role I took on, from Secretary to Vice President of Socials and President, brought new challenges and learning opportunities. I gained hands-on experience in event planning, communication, and strategic decision-making, but more importantly, I learned how to lead with empathy, listen to diverse perspectives, and foster inclusive spaces for all students.”
Next year, she will be succeeded in her role by Yetian Cai, the current Vice President of Academic Events as she transitions into a new role as the Director of Graduate Student Affairs in the UF Student Government Cabinet
“AE-GSO gave me a platform to mentor others, connect with faculty and alumni, and advocate for initiatives that support our department’s long-term vision,” Faith said. “It shaped not only my time at UF, but also the kind of academic and professional I aspire to be, collaborative, forward-thinking, and committed to service. It has been a privilege to serve AE-GSO, and I will carry this experience with me well beyond my time at UF.”
Other members of this year’s Agricultural Economics Graduate Student Organization executive board include Suraj Gurung, Chenxi Hu, Jianhui Liu, Pabin Adhikari and Victor Contreras.
In addition to organizing weekly coffee hours that foster connection between faculty, staff, and graduate students, Faith and her fellow AE-GSO officers plan our annual department bowling tournament and other fun activities to help students feel at home.
Beyond building community, they’ve worked tirelessly to ensure the Agricultural Economics Graduate Student Organization also serves as a professional resource.
They’ve organized faculty-led workshops on topics like navigating the academic job market and panel discussions with successful program alumni. This programming helps students explore a range of potential career paths.
It was her own experiences with this programming in her first year that inspired Yetian to run for the position of Vice President of Academic Events, having found the sessions offered in the year prior, such as one on best practices for the job market led by Ph.D. alumnus Dr. Adams Ceballos, invaluable.
“During the summer, I teamed up with Faith and Adams to design workshops, plus new panels on networking, AI tools, and industry careers—always with student needs front and center,” said Yetian Cai. “Notably, having just completed our qualifying exams, we deeply understood the challenges of preparation and the lessons learned, so we decided to organize a panel session to “pass on” our experience to the next cohort.”
Their goal is to support students in making a smooth and successful transition into the careers of their choosing after graduation.
“AE-GSO has been instrumental in helping students find community, develop their professional identities, and prepare for life after graduate school,” Faith said. “To know that the University sees and values that work means a great deal to all of us. Personally, it’s been inspiring to watch ideas turn into initiatives and to see our members benefit in tangible ways, from landing internships and academic positions to simply feeling more connected and supported throughout their time in the program and at FRED. I am very happy and proud of myself and the entire AE-GSO team, both past and present.”
As we move into the summer, Yetian looks forward to continuing to build upon the strong programming AE-GSO has become known for and continuing to provide community for our FRE graduate students.
“Looking ahead, I’m committed to bringing busy team members together efficiently (like Faith), expanding our academic slate with timely, practical topics, and creating fun social gatherings so students can connect and recharge.,” Yetian said. “We’ll also elevate our weekly coffee hours to foster informal dialogue between students and faculty. As our new team strives for excellence in both academic and social events, I hope we’ll earn the Student Engagement Award—a recognition that hard work and community spirit go hand in hand.”
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