HUNTINGTON, Ind. – About 10 years ago, Dr. Jessica Graves learned about Huntington University’s (HU) Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies while attending a National FFA Convention.

At the convention, she met Nate Perry, managing director of the institute. Since their meeting, she kept up with the university’s agriculture program and how it was progressing. Fast forward to 2026, and in a few weeks, Graves will take over as the institute’s director.

“Over the last decade, I have watched the HU ag program grow and help students flourish as they are launched into their professional lives, equipped through the spiritual formation and technical training provided by HU faculty and staff,” she explained. “I’ve always admired the opportunity provided at HU for faculty to lead, mentor and educate students with a Christ-centered approach, so when the opportunity came to join the team, I jumped in with confidence.”

HU is a Christian college of liberal arts offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in more than 70 areas of study. The Haupert Institute began in fall 2015 with about a dozen students. This academic year, 124 students are enrolled in the program, a university representative said.

Graves has been an adjunct professor for the university’s MBA-International Agriculture program and the institute since 2024.

“Huntington University, but specifically the HU ag program, has occupied a special place in my heart since I first met the team,” she noted. “My adjunct role provided a platform for me to build inter-departmental relationships with those beyond the HU ag program. I have enjoyed my time teaching international agriculture courses online and have seen first-hand the caliber of students that HU attracts.”

By the time she knew the director role was available, Graves said she had led two HU agricultural mission trips with students alongside Dr. Raymie Porter and his wife, Natalie. Graves said it was a special opportunity to travel and work alongside students as they bring their knowledge, skills, gifts and passion to serve, a vision that she had when she first met Perry at the FFA convention.

Porter, the current director, is retiring. Graves will begin her role June 1.

“When I learned of the director role opportunity, it seemed like a role crafted for my skill set and passion,” she said. “I am often noted as a ‘people person’ and I find myself a natural connector. I thrive in collaborative work environments, and look forward to finding ways to lead the HU ag program well through my existing networks while building new relationships to support the faculty, students and our stakeholders.”

Graves was an academic adviser and instructor at Mississippi University for more than 14 years before joining the M4 Institute as director of international capacity development in 2023. M4 is an international development organization. She plans to continue working with M4.

“I will continue my graduate-level teaching (at HU) and look forward to seeing more undergraduate students complete the International Ag certificate as a way to expand their global agricultural knowledge and skills, which is often of particular interest to those who seek to utilize their agricultural degree in missions and ministry efforts.”

HU’s ag program celebrated its 10-year milestone last year. Graves said the program’s growth speaks volumes about the university’s leadership to invest in a new program, like agriculture, at a liberal arts institution. It also demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of agriculture, as it connects disciplines from history to medicine, she added.

It’s been fun to see that growth, she said, but it’s not just about numbers.

“The HU ag students are leaders in their residence halls, Bible study small groups and athletics teams,” Graves said. “The support of the HU ag program has probably been one of the most impressive attributes. I believe the current administration is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for HU ag, and the ripple effect of that mindset will lead to more collaborations with colleagues across the HU family and beyond.”

The institute’s agricultural education program has great potential for growth and impact, she said.

“I would love nothing more than to see students who desire to be agricultural educators join us for opportunities that set them apart as top-notch educators, equipped with practical skills and fueled by passion,” Graves said. “We all know that ag teachers across the world are highly valued, as they bring life to theoretical concepts through hands-on learning. Prioritizing agricultural education also serves as a platform to mitigate the national agricultural labor challenges that we are facing by raising a generation of youth who value and seek agricultural jobs.”

Graves, from Vance, Ala., grew up on her family’s farm where they raised commercial beef cattle and vegetables. For a time, her mom grew cut flowers for wholesale. She and her husband raise beef cattle on a micro-scale in Mississippi and direct market beef to those in their community.

She said there are things she’s looking forward to – and one she’s not – in her new role: “Well, not the snow and cold weather! This Southern gal has some adapting to do.

“On a serious note, I am truly just looking forward to the opportunity God has given me to lead and serve the HU ag program, and more broadly, the HU family,” Graves said. “The opportunities are boundless, but I am looking forward to hearing more from the faculty, students and stakeholders to help us shape the next chapter of HU ag.

“I have said it before, but ‘faith-family-farming’ is more than just a tagline. It truly describes those in the HU ag community and those who support it.