Kelly Goode

In her own words ...

Where are you from, and why did you choose to study at UGA/CAES?
I was born and raised in Huntsville, AL. I earned my B.S. in genetics from North Carolina State University. The amount of care and investment in students demonstrated by the Integrated Plant Science program made UGA the obvious choice for my graduate education.

What is your major/degree program, and what department?
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics; PhD.

Why did you choose your major?
As an undergraduate at NC State, I worked with the Christmas Tree Genetics Program, which showed me a direct link between my genetics training and farming improvement. I’d never imagined that I could feel like I was back home talking with my grandparents and cousins while doing scientific research.

What is your favorite class you have taken?
Plant Cytogenetics. It was a semester-long tour combining all sorts of biological and genetic information I’ve been learning about for years with historical context and modern applications.

Who has been your favorite instructor?
Jason Wallace. I’ve never had a teacher more interested in finding the best way for students to learn and apply information. He is continuously updating his methods based on educational research and student feedback.

What has been the best experience you've had so far at CAES?
My department has holiday door decorating contests every year. I have so much fun planning creative designs incorporating our research and parodies of classic holiday books, songs, and movies and then working with my labmates to put everything together.

What do you want to do with what you have learned here?
I want to teach, either in the classroom or through extension.

How has your experience at UGA changed you?
I’ve been able to learn from and work with so many exceptional scientists from all over the world, each bringing amazing talents and insights.

Thinking of the word agriculture - what does agriculture mean to you? In what ways does agriculture impact your life and your culture?
Agriculture is the backbone of human society. People dedicate their lives to raising crops and livestock so everyone can enjoy their favorite foods and add to their wardrobes without giving much (if any) thought to the centuries of knowledge and lifetime dedication that produce our food. Even though I grew up in what is now Alabama’s largest city, my suburban neighborhood was surrounded by cotton fields and cow pastures. I drove past a cotton gin on the way to school and was acutely aware of the often invisible impact these people and places had on my life. I’ve experienced where my food comes from — working in my grandparents’ vegetable garden, harvesting at the peak of ripeness, using different preservation methods to store food, and enjoying the taste of foods I helped create. Yes, corn can be bought in season at the farmers’ market and stored for the winter, but corn just tastes better when you cared for the plant yourself. But my experiences are unusual. A deep, daily exposure to agriculture isn't standard issue for most people. For many, canning is a TikTok phenomenon not a skill handed down through generations. To me, agriculture is such a critical part of our lives that everyone should have the opportunity to experience what my traditional, southeastern U.S. upbringing taught me: The food we have should never be taken for granted, and we must work to preserve the knowledge and skills that feed us daily, regardless of the profession you choose.

What do you like to do outside of class — hobbies, interests, secret talents?
I love baking and decorating cakes, cookies, and other desserts. My husband, Jesse, and I love watching baseball (Go Nationals! Go Trash Pandas!), and we also enjoy playing board games and disc golf together.