Deadline to apply for Global Agricultural Leadership Master’s quickly approaching: Hear from one of the first students accepted in program
A brand-new master’s program at South Dakota State University is accepting applications, with priority consideration to those received by Feb. 15, 2026. Focused on leadership in agriculture around the world, the Master of Science in global agriculture is a 30-credit-hour program designed to prepare students to navigate complex global food systems, engage with diverse communities and lead growth across the agriculture industry. Those who apply by the priority deadline will have the opportunity to apply for industry-supported scholarships.
As one of the first students admitted into SDSU’s Global Agricultural Leadership master’s program, Aubrina Melville is helping set the tone for a new graduate experience focused on leadership, innovation and global impact.
Originally from Enterprise, Oregon, Melville came to SDSU seeking a strong animal science program and the opportunity to experience a different part of the country. Now a senior graduating this May, she has built an extensive academic foundation as a double major in animal science and agricultural business, with minors in commodity risk management, economics, agribusiness, marketing and ranch management. With her background and passion for agriculture, Melville is eager to continue her SDSU journey in a program built to develop the next generation of global agricultural leaders.
We had the chance to sit down with Melville and find out why this brand-new program felt like the right fit for her:
Question: What inspired you to apply to the Global Agriculture Leadership Master’s program at SDSU?
Melville: I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do next. I knew I would ultimately want to go back to the family farm, not quite sure what the steps are between now and then. That’s probably like a five- to ten-year plan. I considered maybe working overseas. Then I saw this program, and I was like, if I ever wanted to do grad school, this is a program I want to do.
Question: Why did you choose SDSU (for your bachelor’s degree) and decide to continue education here in the master’s program?
Melville: I came out and toured, I was looking for a really good animal science program and looking for that small-town feel, too. I’m a small-town girl. I didn’t want to go to the big city. I fell in love with the campus, with the people and that’s a big reason why I’m sticking around. I wasn’t necessarily looking to go to grad school, but SDSU is keeping me here because of the people, because of the faculty, because of the campus and because I have really good connections here.
Q: What were your academic and professional goals before entering the program, and how do you see this degree helping you achieve them?
Melville: Academically, I wanted to get the double major in animal science and agricultural business to get a solid foundation to ultimately go back to the family farm. We are a highly-diversified operation, but we don’t have any livestock right now. I want to bring back a livestock sector, and then hopefully also bring back some ideas that I can help our county grow agriculturally. I saw this program. I love the global aspect of it. Oregon is so close to the coast, we see a lot of exporting, a lot of importing – get some of that marketing knowledge, just knowledge of global markets in general. I would love to be a part of the sheep industry or in some leadership role, whether that be just spreading my knowledge of production or talking about global markets, as this program will help me get knowledge in that. I hope to make an impact on the farm, but then also that community as well.
Q: What study abroad trips have you done in the past?
Melville: I’ve had the opportunity to do three short-term study abroads with SDSU. I’ve gone to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The focus of those trips was kind of twofold; first, to look at different agricultural production in those countries. We went to various farms and enterprises while we were there, as well as gain a greater cultural perspective on these countries. It opened my eyes to just how wide the world is and how small the United States is, and how much we can learn from other countries, but how much what we know already can help other countries as well.
Q: Can you describe what global agricultural leadership means to you personally?
Melville: I think it’s kind of twofold. There’s the agricultural leadership side of things, and that’s just being a leader, whether that’s in your community, regionally, state, nationally, being an advocate for agriculture to people who don’t know about it, but also to other agricultural people in the industry – helping expand knowledge, because that’s kind of where agriculture is going next. It’s innovation, technology, how can we make it bigger, better? And then the global side of that is bringing in that global perspective, the diverse perspective from different cultures, as well as spreading our knowledge with other countries too.
Q: Have you had experience working with diverse communities or international agriculture before? If so, how did this help shape your decision?
Melville: The three short-term study abroads are probably the big one on that. Also, just coming from the west coast to the Midwest, there’s a lot of similarities in agriculture, but there’s still a lot of huge differences. Like, there’s hardly any corn or soybeans where I’m from. It’s a lot more diversified operations because the weather is a lot more variable in the summers. So, just coming in with that is learning from the get-go that there’s different ways to look at things. There’s different ways to look at different problems. There’s different ways of doing agriculture, and I think that really gives me a leg up in this program.
Q: What advice would you give to future applicants who are considering this degree?
Melville: I’d say future applicants really need to think hard about it. It’s going to be a really cool program. It’s going to give you a huge perspective that’s really vital in this country, not only just within yourself and growing because you’re taking a grad program, but also that global perspective of diverse cultures and different ways of doing agriculture and just being able to help you grow and grow quicker within your role.
Q: Looking ahead, what excites you most about being part of the first cohort and the future that you are helping to shape?
Melville: I’m really excited about the opportunity to jump into a new program, kind of put your stamp on it a little bit. There are challenges with it, but overall, I’m excited for it and I’m excited about a couple of the classes on the agribusiness side. I’m going to be honest, too – I’m really excited for the domestic and international trips. I love traveling. I love seeing diverse perspectives, so I’m really excited about that.
The priority deadline to apply for the Global Agricultural Leadership master’s program and scholarships is Feb. 15, 2026.
