CANR transfer students share their Spartan stories
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EmailMSU transfer students Marshall Maske and Kylie Steffee share their experiences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Kylie Steffee
Senior, Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education
Why did you choose MSU?
- Even though it is a large university with a variety of courses, people and majors, MSU still has a small, family-like dynamic within the agriculture field. This allows for personal growth while also providing a friendly and welcoming environment.
How has your college experience changed since becoming a Spartan?
- I was a student at Lansing Community College before transferring to MSU, and now that I am a Spartan, I truly feel that I have greater opportunities to socialize with others, network, participate in many different events and enjoy new opportunities that I did not have before.
What is your favorite MSU experience?
- My favorite MSU experience so far has been painting the Rock! This was a recent event that the Agriculture Education Club hosted as a way to spread awareness for National Teach Ag Day, as well as promote the Michigan State Agriculture Education Club and celebrate its 10th anniversary of being rechartered.
What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned in CANR?
- While we all have the same passion, we reach it through different methods. Whether you are an Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Education major or a Forestry major, we all share a passion for the outdoors and look to create a brighter future. I love being a part of such an amazing college because I get to connect with other unique, like-minded individuals.
What are your future plans and goals?
- I plan to work as a high school and middle school educator, inspiring and exposing youth to the opportunities that agriculture and natural resources offer them, whether in the form of a career or simply through daily life. I hope to inspire not only my students but also adults and individuals whom I connect with throughout my professional career. While I will be graduating in 2027, I plan to earn my master’s degree while working in the fall of 2027.
How is CANR preparing you to meet those goals?
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I am consistently being supported by everyone in CANR. I truly could not have asked for a better experience these past two years as a transfer student. Every professor has not only displayed kindness to me as a student, but has gone above and beyond to display their passion for their industry in the classroom, and continually inspires me as an individual.
Marshall Maske
Senior, Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Why did you choose MSU?
- I wanted to study the environment, how we affect the environment and how the environment affects us. MSU was my first choice, because it has such a strong agricultural and natural sciences background.
How has your college experience changed since becoming a Spartan?
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I'm allowing myself to sort of fall into social settings easier than I thought I would, being about 10 years older than most of the students here. it's been pretty easy to become friends with a lot of the people in the college.
What is your favorite MSU experience?
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Creating a video for my environmental issues using film class. I had to create three videos for that. I was a finalist for all three and won best in class for the first time. Just being able to use my creativity and put that passion towards another passion, which is the environment.
What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned in CANR?
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The most valuable thing that I've learned is the complexity of our systems as a whole, whether it be environmental law or environmental justice, just learning more about just how complex the system is. It's not just something that you can just change.
What are your future plans and goals?
- I want to move out to Los Angeles and get on some production teams to get my foot in the door and learn the whole process of producing films on a set. Ideally, I would like to direct a few movies or write a few movies, then eventually make my own film, and I think I can use filmmaking and the information that I've been learning in environmental studies to make these subjects more palatable for everyday moviegoers.
How is CANR preparing you to meet those goals?
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CANR is doing a good job at giving me the tools and the knowledge that I need. Not only am I able to be creative, but with this minor in digital storytelling and the major in environmental studies, it's allowing me to bring that background into film.
