Photo courtesy Avery Harrison.
In the first 30 days as director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Miami-Dade County, Pamela Aracena Santos has begun shaping programs to better reflect the voices and needs of the county’s diverse communities.
From listening sessions with growers and neighborhood leaders to early planning around community resilience and youth development, Aracena Santos is setting the stage for an Extension rooted in collaboration and science-based solutions.
“Growing up in Miami’s inner city gave me a firsthand understanding of both the challenges and the strengths within our communities,” said Aracena Santos. “It shaped my vision for Extension programs that are culturally responsive and directly connected to the real needs of our neighborhoods. I want Extension to be a bridge—connecting science and resources to the people who need them most, in ways that are accessible, empowering and transformative.”
Aracena Santos officially took the helm of UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County on Aug. 18. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Miami’s inner city, Aracena Santos earned her doctoral degree in soil science and plant nutrition from Selcuk University in Turkey. There, she built a strong foundation in agricultural research before returning home to apply her skills to South Florida’s unique soil and climate challenges.
A former postdoctoral research associate at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center, she brings local insight and global expertise to the role. Her postdoctoral research centered on evaluating phosphorus reduction in farm basins within the Everglades Agricultural Area. Specifically, she studied differences in phosphorus reduction among farms using similar best management practices (BMPs), examining how soil chemistry and historical land use influence phosphorus concentrations in farm drainage waters. This work is key to protecting water quality in one of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems.
Aracena Santos also sees her research background as a tool for local solutions in Homestead, where agriculture is one of Florida’s most prolific economic engines.
Photo courtesy Suzy Pappas.
“By integrating science-based practices into our Extension efforts, we can support local farmers in adopting management strategies that protect our waterways and agricultural lands, while maintaining productivity,” she said.
Her earliest priorities focus on expanding access to Extension services in underserved neighborhoods, while also strengthening partnerships with local organizations and government agencies. She is dedicated to amplifying community voices through listening sessions and collaborative planning, ensuring that programs align with local needs.
Simultaneously, she seeks to deliver impactful initiatives across commercial and urban agriculture, youth development, marine ecosystems, and nutrition education. In partnership with government agencies such as Miami-Dade’s Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces department, she envisions utilizing public parks as vibrant hubs for community outreach—offering youth programming that blends nature, education, Extension and civic engagement. This collaborative approach strengthens her commitment to expanding access to hands-on learning and leadership development, especially in underserved communities.
Youth programming is especially close to her heart. Having participated in enrichment programs herself, she understands the transformative role mentorship and hands-on learning can serve. She plans to expand 4-H and other youth initiatives, particularly in underserved areas, to cultivate leadership, STEM skills and civic engagement.
“Collaboration will be essential to solving challenges like sustainable communities, food security and water quality,” she said. “By aligning Extension with community priorities and leveraging the expertise from our neighboring UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center and the university system, we can co-create innovative, science-based solutions that ensure a healthier, more resilient Miami-Dade for all.”
With one month behind her, Aracena Santos is showing how her blend of scientific expertise, lived experience and passion for outreach will guide UF/IFAS Extension Miami Dade into the next chapter of service and impact.
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Photo courtesy Barbara Marquez.
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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