Ask Alumni | College of Agricultural Sciences

From Seed to Sown: Navigating from College to Career

College of Agricultural Sciences 

Panelists:

Brian Chapman, '17, graduated in food science and technology with the fermentation science option, a minor in chemistry and the sustainability double degree. Following graduation, he first interned at Worthy Brewing in Bend, where he has been since as a brewer, QA technician, quality assurance manager and now head brewer. While at OSU, he was the treasurer and fermentation chair of the Food and Fermentation Science Club, as well as a founding member of the student chapter for the American Society of Brewing Chemists. 

Vineyard manager Erica Miller, '15, oversees 375+ acres of grapevines for Argyle Winery. Erica has a B.S. in Horticulture with an emphasis in viticulture and enology from Oregon State University. Erica worked as a research assistant for two years, where she was involved with various research projects, including Pinot noir fruitfulness studies, Pinot noir and Chardonnay crop estimate studies and the Statewide Crop Load Trial. After learning details of vine physiology and viticulture through research, she began vineyard management work for eight years before becoming the vineyard manager at Argyle Winery. Erica is an active member in the Willamette Valley Viticulture Technical Group, the LIVE Technical Group, ASEV and other industry groups.

Melissa Robell, '18, majored in fisheries and wildlife sciences. She now works at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a visitor services specialist focusing on communication, outreach and environmental education.

Angel Torres, ‘18, graduated with a B.S in Crop and Soil Science. Since leaving OSU, Angel has been working as a crop advisor/consultant with an Oregon-based agronomy retailer providing agronomic services to farmers in the Willamette Valley. He is involved with precision agriculture bringing modern tools to growers. Angel is also deeply involved in the industry, attending industry-wide meetings and conferences and is a director for the Oregon Society of Weed Science. While at OSU, he was a CAS Ambassador, involved with MANRRS and CAMP.