Alumna Accepts Position as DelVal's First Policy Intern for NASDA

Madeleine Buzzeo ‘22, a sustainable agricultural systems alumna, is headed to Arlington, Virginia to be a policy intern for the National Association for State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).

As the first DelVal student to get accepted as a NASDA policy intern, Madeleine says she is excited to see what current agricultural issues are being worked on and how they are being tackled.

“I expect to learn a lot about agriculture as a whole - looking at policy, you have to have a wholistic view of agriculture to understand what is being talked about and how different policies are going to affect the whole food system,” said Buzzeo.

Buzzeo will be attending different congressional hearings and conference calls, helping with their Winter Policy Conference, and conducting research on different legislative issues.

At DelVal, Buzzeo reflects the professors that had the biggest impact on Buzzeo were Dr. Gambino, assistant professor of animal science and co-director of foods system institute, and professor Powell, animal science instructor. The two have been mentors to Madeleine. Dr. Gambino connected Madeleine with Zach Gihorski, a DelVal alumnus. Zach helped her prepare for the interview by introducing her to Commissioner Hurlbert, the Commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Agriculture.

“It was a great opportunity that I would not have been able to do without Dr. Gambino and Zach's connections,” said Buzzeo.

Madeleine recently graduated at the end of the fall 2022 semester. After her internship, Buzzeo hopes to get a job in agricultural policy or pursue a graduate degree in either environmental policy or agroecology.

Her strong passion for agriculture and helping people put her on the path toward pursuing a position in agricultural policy, a field where Madeleine says she can “help have a positive effect on the people who serve our food system."