Iowa State University (ISU) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) continues to make its mark on the global stage, with four alumni selected for the inaugural Alumni Ambassador Program by the World Food Prize Foundation. Among them is Morgan Smith, a microbiology laboratory teaching specialist whose journey from student to global advocate reflects the transformative power of youth programs and higher education.
Smith joins fellow Iowa State alumni Nolan Monaghan, Olivia Marti, and Evelyn Heidt as part of an elite group of just 22 ambassadors selected worldwide. Launched this year, the program empowers alumni of the Foundation’s youth initiatives to serve as leaders driving global food security efforts. For Smith, the appointment is both a professional milestone and a deeply personal full-circle moment.
“I participated in the World Food Prize Youth Institutes as a high school student,” Smith said. “Through this opportunity, I was awarded a scholarship to ISU CALS as well as the opportunity to be a USDA Wallace Carver Fellow twice. This internship program allowed me to work in a microbiology lab the summer before attending Iowa State University. I absolutely fell in love with microbiology through this experience.”
That early exposure proved pivotal. Upon arriving at Iowa State, Smith added microbiology as a
second major, an academic decision she credits entirely to her experience with the World Food Prize programs.
“I truly believe had it not been for these programs, I would not have the wonderful career I have today,” she said.
Now, Smith brings that same passion into her role within Iowa State’s Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology (PPEM), where she supports student learning and fosters hands-on engagement in microbiology. Her appointment as an Alumni Ambassador further expands her impact, connecting her lab work to global conversations on food security.
As part of the year-long program, Smith collaborates monthly with a Midwest regional team to develop alumni engagement initiatives and plan events that strengthen connections among past participants.
“I am currently serving as an Alumni Ambassador to try to connect with alumni of these programs and foster a community and further the goals of the World Food Prize,” Smith said. “I also want to highlight the importance of microbiology in the food security space.”
Smith’s outreach efforts already extend to mentoring the next generation. She has served as an immersion leader for Iowa Youth Institutes hosted on the Iowa State campus, introducing high school students to the critical role microbiology plays in global food systems.
Each of her fellow Iowa State ambassadors brings unique experiences to the program. Monaghan and Marti are former employees of the Seed Science Center and recipients of Iowa Seed Association scholarships, while Heidt earned her master’s degree from PPEM just last year.
Together, the four represent the depth and diversity of CALS programs and their shared commitment to addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges: ensuring a safe, secure, and sustainable food supply.
The Alumni Ambassador Program builds on decades of youth engagement by the World Food Prize Foundation, which has reached more than 90,000 students globally through its educational initiatives. The new program aims to keep alumni connected while equipping them with leadership skills and opportunities to drive real-world impact.
For Smith, that mission is clear.
“As an alumna of both the World Food Prize programs and Iowa State CALS, I am able to share my experiences and represent what these opportunities can lead to,” she said. “It’s about giving back, building connections, and helping create meaningful change.”
Through her dual roles as educator and ambassador, Smith is not only shaping future scientists in the classroom but also helping cultivate a global network committed to feeding the world.