Misty Blue-Terry, Ph.D., the 4-H STEM specialist for Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T, has been selected for the Food Systems Leadership Institute, a prestigious leadership development program for experienced professionals in higher education, government and industry.

Blue-Terry is part of FSLI’s 18th cohort, whose 28 fellows from all over the country began the program last fall.

“Leadership is a life skill that everybody needs to grow,” Blue-Terry said. “Sometimes we come to a point in our careers and in our lives when it’s time to brush up, and FSLI presents an awesome opportunity to do that.”

FSLI is an intensive two-year program that develops participants both personally and professionally through sessions with expert instructors, leadership development coaches, mentors and university, political and industry leaders. FSLI aims to advance and strengthen food systems by preparing participants for more senior positions in food system programs or within their organizations. It’s a program of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

In their first year, FSLI fellows attend week-long intensive residential executive education sessions at three university locations — N.C. State University this past October, The Ohio State University in February and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo later this year. Participants also take part in interactive virtual classes between residential sessions. In the program’s second year, the fellows apply what they have learned to their current professional roles and complete an individual leadership project.

Blue-Terry earned all three of her engineering degrees from North Carolina A&T State University, including a doctorate in industrial and systems engineering with a concentration in human factors in 2006. She joined Cooperative Extension at A&T in 2010 and also serves as co-director of A&T’s 1890 Center of Excellence for Student Success and Workforce Development.

At Cooperative Extension, Blue-Terry trains 4-H agents in all 100 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian Nation to implement STEM and youth development programs in their communities. In 2017, she won the 1890 Excellence in Extension Award for her 4-H youth development work from APLU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Blue-Terry said she intends to use her FSLI experience to build upon her existing leadership skills and eventually move into new professional roles with increased responsibilities.

“Cooperative Extension is a very detailed and intricate system that needs good leaders,” she said. “This program will impact North Carolina by developing leadership skills and propelling junior faculty like me to lead the organization in the future.”

Blue-Terry said she’s encouraged by the success of past program participants from A&T. FSLI alumni with connections to the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences include CAES Dean Mohamed Ahmedna, Ph.D. ; Antoine J. Alston, Ph.D., professor of agricultural education and associate dean of academic studies; and Rosalind Jones Dale, Ed.D., a former associate dean with CAES who is now A&T’s vice provost for engagement and outreach.

Blue-Terry said FSLI has enormous potential to help her develop not just her career but as a person, mother and community member.

“I just want to grow,” Blue-Terry said, “and realize all of the potential inside of me.”