Emily Stumpf seeks to share agriculture with the general public
Emily Stumpf, who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, is graduating this spring with a bachelor’s in life sciences communication and a certificate in digital studies. She was selected to be the CALS flag bearer at the UW–Madison 2025 spring commencement ceremony. In this Q&A, she talks about why she chose the life sciences communication major and her involvement in multiple student organizations. She plans to continue to work for Wisconsin 4-H with the goal of working in agricultural communications. You can watch her video interview at the bottom of the page or on YouTube.
Why did you choose your major? What was the most interesting or the coolest thing you learned?
I chose life sciences communication (LSC) as my major because of the ability to tailor the major to what you want and what you want to do after graduation. Throughout the major, I have been able to work on agricultural communications while still being an LSC major. The most interesting thing I’ve learned was the steps of creating, maintaining, and growing a brand on social media and beyond.
What student organizations, groups, and other activities were you involved in?
On campus, I have been involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. Each of these allowed me to learn more about agriculture and explore new industries within.
What are your future academic and/or career plans, short-term and long-term?
Upon graduation, I plan to continue to work for Wisconsin 4-H until I find a full-time position. I would like to pursue a career in agricultural marketing and communications, allowing me to share agriculture’s story with the greater public closely involved in agriculture and not.
What were the most valuable and/or meaningful experiences you had in CALS?
One of the most valuable and meaningful experiences I had in CALS was the ability to learn that the faculty was always there to help and wanted to see you succeed. This was particularly meaningful to me because I didn’t have the smoothest transition from high school to college academics. With that, I was able to lean on my academic advisor in the LSC department to help me get my footing back in my academics.
When you think about your time here as a student, what are you proud of?
One of the proudest moments of my time here at UW as a student is looking back on what I have been able to accomplish and what I have learned about myself. As this might be a cheesy thing to say, it is something that I don’t think I would have been able to have done without coming here. I have been able to grow in areas that I didn’t know I had and been able to develop skills that make me a better person in and out of the classroom.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with CALS students?
A piece of advice I would like to share with CALS students is a piece of advice I recently received from an alumna a few weeks ago — only take advice from someone who is where you want to be. This piece to me hit home as it is true and something to always remember. Everyone is always looking to give advice to anyone who will listen, but hearing it from someone who is where you want to be one day resonates more and gives you something to hold on to as you work to get to where they are.
What do you like most about being a CALS student?
Once again, the community. The community aspect of CALS has been one of the most important things for me. This has been in the classroom and in student-led organizations. The sense of community has allowed me to grow and find people who are like-minded and have many of the same goals.
If you had to eat one Babcock ice cream flavor for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Mint Fudge Marble — it combines mint and chocolate perfectly!
What’s your favorite thing about the city of Madison?
Madison always has something going on and is the home to the World Dairy Expo! From a young age, I grew up coming to Madison every October to attend the World Dairy Expo. This was when I first laid eyes on UW and set my sights on coming here for school. Coming here year after year, watching the members of the Badger Dairy Club working Expo, showed me who I wanted to be one day, and being here today seems like a dream come true.