The Intern Leadership Edition: Lessons in Community

by Kayla Machen - July 15, 2025

This summer the Rural Community and Economic Development team hosted three interns through the Experiential Scholars Program. Myah Hudson, Mason Mabry and Jacob Easley spent several weeks gaining firsthand knowledge of extension's role in supporting communities and developing valuable professional skills.

Interns with their mentors at the Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) conference 

Building stronger communities

A significant highlight for all three interns was the opportunity to travel to Charleston, West Virginia, for the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) conference. The event provided a chance to network with professionals from across the country who are dedicated to community development. The interns found it inspiring to see their CPED team members, including Dr. Hunter Goodman and Dr. Stacey McCullough, lead workshops and to connect with individuals doing meaningful work.  

The internship also offered a deep dive into the diverse career paths within extension. Through weekly Zoom meetings, the scholars connected with professionals from various departments, broadening their understanding of the field. Mabry noted these meetings were a "highlight" of his week, offering a fantastic view of career possibilities.  

A valuable aspect of the program was the experience of working in an office environment. Mabry, for whom this was his first office job, found it to be an invaluable opportunity to develop problem-solving and communication skills. He also appreciated learning about the essential paperwork and legal requirements that are part of an organization's operations. Hudson also found value in the office setting, noting it gave her insight into the "behind the scenes work of extension" and how different departments overlap.  

In addition to shared experiences, each intern focused on unique projects and had personal takeaways: 

Jacob Easley

Jacob Easley's summer began with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Rural Development Conference in Little Rock, right after orientation—before Jacob had any background in community professional economic development. Within a few weeks, Easley had learned numerous acronyms, collected data, and gained a deeper understanding of Arkansas’ workforce and economy.

His main project was to identify internship opportunities across Arkansas to support local workforce development. He found 76 potential opportunities across 13 counties, with more to explore. A highlight of the project was connecting with county extension agents and local leaders to learn about regional challenges and efforts firsthand.

This work supports the university’s Land of Opportunity Scholarship, which provides Pell-eligible University of Arkansas students with local paid internships. The goal is to help students gain experience and skills while strengthening their home communities’ workforce—a win-win for students and local economies.

 Myah Hudson

Myah Hudson’s internship with the Experiential Scholars Program on the Community, Professional, and Economic Development (CPED) team at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has been a valuable learning experience. Over the past several weeks, Hudson gained a deeper understanding of how extension supports communities at the local, state, and national levels.

A key highlight was attending the NACDEP conference in Charleston, West Virginia, where she connected with professionals passionate about community development and watched CPED team members lead workshops. Hudson also participated in iLEAD leadership training in Clarksville and Fayetteville, gaining skills and insights into her leadership style.

Throughout the internship, Hudson was exposed to the wide range of careers within extension. Weekly Zoom sessions with professionals across departments and hands-on office experience helped her understand how various roles and teams contribute to stronger communities behind the scenes.

This experience provided unexpected growth, and Hudson is grateful for the support of the CPED team and excited to apply these lessons moving forward.

Mason Mabry 

Mason Mabry’s first six weeks as an intern with the Community, Professional and Economic Development (CPED) team at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have been a valuable and eye-opening experience. When Mabry wasn’t working out in the field, the office environment offered practical skills in communication, problem-solving, and navigating organizational processes—experiences that will benefit future career opportunities.

A major highlight for Mabry was the CPED team’s effort to stay connected and introduce interns to a variety of careers within extension. Weekly Zoom sessions with professionals across related fields provided insight into the broad scope of Extension work and became a favorite part of the experience.

Just like their fellow interns, Mabry's standout moment of the internship was attending the NACDEP conference in Charleston, West Virginia. He appreciated the chance to see CPED team members lead workshops, meet passionate Extension professionals from across the country, and learn from colleagues such as Lisa Davis and Kristin Higgins.

Overall, this internship has been a meaningful opportunity for growth, and Mabry is looking forward to applying these lessons while engaging in a community-based project during the final weeks of the program.

Final Week

The three interns expressed deep appreciation for their time with the CPED team. Easley specifically thanked Dr. Stacey McCullough, Dr. Hunter Goodman, Danielle Watson, Brandon Matthews, Lisa Davis, Kristin Higgins and Kayla Machen, as well as his fellow interns. The experience provided unexpected growth, and the interns are excited to apply what they've learned to the next steps in their journeys. The three interns will be presenting their final projects on July 16th. Stay tuned for a detailed blog post on each of their final projects.

Want to read about the other interns' experience?

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