UMES Extension has a new face on the 4-H team! Ariel Clay has crossed the continent to accept the role of 4-H STEM and youth development specialist. November 14 was her first official day at the helm.
“Following a long screening process, UMES Extension offered the position to Ms. Clay, whose office is in Kiah Hall,” said Dr. Enrique N. Escobar, associate dean for UMES Extension. “We have been looking forward to having the 4-H STEM team completed.”
The position, Clay said, seemed “tailor-made” for her goals and interests. “Plus, working at an 1890 land-grant institution provides me with more opportunities to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in my work. I also hear the seafood on the Eastern Shore cannot be beat!”
Clay was born and raised in rural central California, where she participated in 4-H, Future Farmers of America and “took every science class available.” She was selected as the California 4-H State Ambassador in high school along with participating in cultural exchange programs. In addition to hosting over 20 exchange students, she spent two months in Japan with the 4-H/Labo Exchange program.
Her interests in science and other cultures followed her in the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in diplomacy and world affairs with a minor in biology at Occidental College in L.A. Before graduating, she took a year hiatus from her studies to participate in a yearlong internship program with the Labo International Exchange Program, a youth development program in Japan. The experience “cemented her interest in non-formal education,” inspiring her to return to the country to work for the program as an exchange program coordinator in 2007. Clay returned to the states (California) three years later as Labo’s operations manager for their North American programs.
Returning to her 4-H roots, Clay put her skills and experiences to work over the past nine years as a program representative for the San Joaquin County 4-H. There, she helped create new STEM initiatives, including day camps centered on environmental science and agricultural technology. A new desire emerged “to become an expert in experiential learning and science literacy,” leading her to pursue a master’s in child development in the Human Development Graduate Group at the University of California Davis. With the help of her advisor, a 4-H science literacy and curriculum specialist, Clay earned her degree this September while continuing her work with 4-H.
“I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running at UMES and am especially excited about the opportunity to develop marine science programs that leverage the Marine, Estuarine, Environmental Science Program’s resources,” Clay said. “I am anxious to learn more about the 4-H STEM team’s current projects and how I can play a part in helping them achieve new goals that touch the lives of Maryland’s youth.”
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photo by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu, 410-621-6707.
