Earning a college degree is a feat in itself, but Kaitlyn Murray has gone beyond that by earning two bachelor’s degrees and will soon receive her master’s degree. Kaitlyn graduated first in 2012 from Ohio State with a Bachelor of Science in biology. In 2013, she received her second diploma from Ohio State, a Bachelor of Science in animal sciences. Currently she is a graduate research associate in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership where she is working on multiple projects.
Kaitlyn Murray, graduate associate
Kaitlyn was inspired to pursue graduate education as she saw the need for innovative retention strategies that support minority students of agriculture. As an LGBT student in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), Kaitlyn had a unique vantage point where she could see agriculture as the most fundamental vehicle for social justice. Long-term goals for Kaitlyn include obtaining an administrative position in a college of agriculture and related sciences where she can focus on equity, inclusion, and student development. She aspires to encourage empathy, confidence, scholarly thought, and activism in students through a continued dialogue.
The proposed thesis that Kaitlyn is working on examines college student peer mentors and the development of their leadership abilities. Under the guidance of Dr. Jeff King, Dr. Jeff Hattey, and Dr. Susie Whittington, Kaitlyn is exploring this using data collected from students at Ohio State. Associated with this, Kaitlyn is developing an evaluation that measures the impact of the CFAES Peer Mentoring program.
Another graduate research project Kaitlyn is focusing on concerns the conditions that enhance or inhibit the effectiveness of interdisciplinary scientific research teams. Her research on this is being done alongside Julie Aldridge and Dr. Graham Cochran.
Beyond doing research, Kaitlyn is very involved within CFAES as a peer mentor program coordinator and a teaching assistant. She is also designing equity/inclusion programming to be implemented in the fall of 2016. Even with her busy schedule, Kaitlyn still finds time to volunteer at the Franklin Park Conservatory.
Kaitlyn was raised on a hobby farm in northwestern New 
Jersey, where her family bred and raised alpacas, miniature horses, goats, and honeybees. Her background in agriculture will serve her well as she plans to spend her life making a positive impact on students pursuing degrees in agriculture.
To learn more about graduate opportunities within ACEL, contact Dr. Scott Scheer, professor and chair of graduate studies by emailing scheer.9@osu.edu or visit room 203 in Agricultural Administration.