Alumnus Carina Gaz Wins Prestigious Agricultural Trade Fellowship

After a highly competitive nationwide competition, Carina Gaz, a 2009 Orfalea College of Business graduate, was recently awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service Diversity (FDFP) Fellowship.

The FDFP is a USDA program administered by Howard University, which supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) — the eyes, ears, and voice of U.S. agriculture around the world — working to create global trade opportunities for those who produce and export American farm and food products.

FAS Foreign Service Officers can serve in one of more than 100 FAS offices at U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world.  The fellowship will support Gaz through two years of graduate school, two internships, mentorship, professional development, and preparation to begin their career. The fellowship is valued at approximately $106,000.

Carina Gaz was awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service Diversity Fellowship. (Photo courtesy of Howard University)

“We are thrilled that Carina Gaz will be joining FDFP,” said Patricia Scroggs, director of diplomatic fellowships. ” Studying at California Polytechnic State University, Carina became committed to a career of public service and agriculture and will be an outstanding representative of both Cal Poly and the United States as a FAS Foreign Service Officer.  I am confident that she will excel in graduate school and the Foreign Agricultural Service.”

Gaz graduated from Cal Poly with a bachelor’s degree in international business and was an active student on campus during their studies. Through Cal Poly’s Model United Nations conference in Xi’an, China, they developed leadership and presentation skills that will be instrumental for success at USDA. Gaz has demonstrated a commitment to service volunteering overseas in the Peace Corps in Timor-Leste, working for local non-profits and regional farms. They leveraged networks and professional development managing farms in Oregon, Colorado, and Washington State. Through their service, they have had more than ten years of first-hand experience with agricultural management and policies. Gaz’s next steps include completing a master’s in agriculture economics to continue fulfilling their interests and expertise in agricultural trade overseas.

Gaz said they are proud to be a FDFP Fellow and a future Foreign Agriculture Service Officer.

“I’m honored to join the inaugural cohort of FAS Diversity Fellows and am grateful to all the mentors, teachers, friends and family that supported this dream come true,” Gaz said. “I look forward to a career in which I get to serve and support the important work of U.S. farmers and ranchers.”

About the FAS Diversity Fellowship Program

The Foreign Agricultural Service Diversity Fellowship program (FDFP) is a USDA program administered by Howard University that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding individuals who represent ethnic, gender, social, and geographic diversity and have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).  FDFP plans to award four fellowships up to $42,000 annually for a two-year graduate program at a U.S. university toward tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of their Agribusiness or Agricultural Economic degrees. Those who successfully complete FDFP and pass the USDA’s FAS Foreign Service Assessment will be offered a position as a Foreign Service Trainee (FST), which will prepare them for a career as a FAS Officer overseas. Fellows will then start a uniquely rewarding career of international service representing U.S. agricultural goods abroad. More information can be found on FDFP’s website: https://fasdiversityfellowship.org/