April 2011 An Interview with Jessica Cyders ('11)
by David Bruggink ('12)
Jessica Cyders is a second-year CommDev student from Akron, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio University in 2006, double-majoring in History and Political Science. Over summers during college, she worked at a corn farm, as well as at a living history museum that doubled as a farm. Before returning to Ohio as a graduate student, she also spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, working in the domain of agro-forestry. “When I interviewed for my post,” she says, “the head of the agro-forestry program was very excited to learn that I knew how to drive a tractor, even though tractors are non-existent in Cameroon's Extreme North province.”
Jessica says that when she started the CommDev program, her research interests were initially in community development in Africa. Over time, however, those interests shifted towards the Appalachian region of the U.S. “If my passion is rural development and community engagement, then why not start with the community around me?” Jessica says. “Now, most of my research examines communication strategies in rural nonprofits.” Last summer, Jessica started working as an intern in the Sustainable Forestry program of Rural Action, a nonprofit based in Trimble, Ohio. “I worked on generating community awareness for a program called the Appalachian Carbon Partnership. I also got some good experience in grant writing with the Environmental Education program.” Jessica continued working with Rural Action throughout the school year as an intern under Rural Action’s Development and Communications director, a role that provided experience in planning two major fundraisers. Jessica says her real dream, though, is to work with Rural Action to engage members of Athens and Morgan counties, creating a constant dialogue.
Jessica says one course that had a particular impact on her was Media and Development, taught by Dr. Lawrence Wood. The course focused on rural development in the United States, and Dr. Wood also encouraged her to take several geography classes that she has found valuable.
Now, despite her initial plans, Jessica says she is thinking about settling down in Athens, and she’s come to love the town. She says her long term plan is to buy a farm, and raise goats. Currently, however, she enjoys cooking, photography and gardening when she has the time. “I feel that anything creative I can do with my hands is rewarding,” she says.