James LaGioia

• Field of Study: Soil and Crop Sciences
• Hometown: Mount Morris, NY
• Fun fact: My wife and I run a little family farm with our 3-month old daughter.
• Class of: 2011
• View James' LinkedIn profile

What were you doing prior to your degree program?

I went straight into the MPS program after earning my Bachelor’s in CALS. I had been working for the US Army Corps of Engineers as a maintenance laborer.

What were the biggest obstacles you overcame in order to participate in the MPS program?

A lot of my friends were going right out into the workforce and that made me wonder if I should be, too. I followed my own path and listened to myself and I am really glad I did.

Why did you choose to pursue the MPS degree?

I thought it was a great opportunity and would give me a leg up on my competition who only had bachelor’s degrees. I think that the MPS degree is definitely why I moved up the ladder faster. I ascended faster than those who didn’t have one.

What were the strengths of your program, in your opinion?

For me, I got more comfortable with scientific papers, researching and writing. I really got a lot out of taking advanced classes. I got to expand my learning and knowledge outside of core, basic classes and got to take the upper-level classes. I loved the classes I took with Toni DiTommaso and those are still relevant for me.

What were some of the most rewarding moments while in your MPS program?

The best part was earning that degree at the end of the year. Also, I got to work with faculty like Harold van Es, and the soil health team. I got to see behind the scenes of the Adapt-In program looking at high-resolution climate data. I did a case study on applying the program to a real farm.

What did you do after earning your MPS degree?

I got a job with the USDA Natural Resources area where I am now a Resource Conservationist. I moved to Utah and worked there for my first year where I applied what I had learned to agriculture that was different from what I was used to. Then I moved back to upstate NY.

How did your degree program impact your career path?

I feel more competent in many areas in my job. I am more equipped to do my job and feel more confident. It was definitely a good choice and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. During my first year here, I was even asked to offer some trainings to existing staff relevant to what I learned at Cornell.

What courses stand out as most helpful for your specific career goals?

Toni’s class, Weed Ecology and Management – I use these principles a lot and they apply to everything I do. I also got a lot out of Steve DeGloria’s, Geo-Information Systems class.

What professional organizations are you involved in?

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in order to stay current.

What advice would you give to your younger self embarking on the journey of graduate school?

Get as much as experience as you can in the area you’re interested in. Having an extra year at Cornell was wonderful I took a lot of PE courses and tried mountain biking. These are great ways to make friends and network.