The James Buzzard Leadership Development Program was initiated through a generous donation from James “Jim” Buzzard, an alumnus of the College of Natural Resources and the former president of MeadWestvaco. Through observation, Jim believed that many leaders, despite their mystique and ability to inspire great things, wonder how they developed the skills to become such figureheads in their organizations.
Jim concluded that outstanding leadership, like any other skill, can be learned. Good leaders have taken the time to develop their craft, clarifying their core beliefs and cultivating their ability to inspire others. They have discovered how to uncover the energy and talents of diverse people and channel them into the pursuit of a common vision. They have practiced the art of team building, enforcing essential principles, when necessary, but always ensuring that all team members are active and productive members of the group. Outstanding leaders change the world through vision, hard work, creativity and the careful service of others.
The James Buzzard Leadership Development Program is built on Jim’s vision to help undergraduate students further their interests in leadership and hone their skills so that they leave NC State as budding leaders capable of guiding teams to success in whatever careers they pursue.
Using an inspirational case-based learning approach, combined with personal interactions with leaders across various fields and a focus on leadership development through readings, reflections and hands-on activities, this year-long program gives students who complete it a greater understanding of their potential and new confidence in what they can accomplish.
Program Components
Three-day field trip to meet with leaders in Washington, D.C.
Individualized sessions with a professional coach focused on emotional intelligence
Networking dinners with community leaders
Team-building opportunities
Workshops focused on critical leadership skills such as conflict, negotiation, difficult conversations and other topics
Student Opportunities
Build your resume to make you more competitive
Apply your leadership skills through various opportunities
Meet and engage with industry leaders
Partner with a community mentor
Participate in field trips to visit the leadership of different companies and organizations
Collaborate with other students to host interactive seminars
Enjoy free professional development resources
Application Information
Applications for the fourth cohort of James Buzzard Leadership Fellows will open up in January 2026.
Admission Criteria
The program is limited to no more than 20 students per cohort.
Students must be willing to commit to the full academic year (August-May) and must be a third- or fourth-year. Second-year students with leadership experience may be considered.
The James Buzzard Leadership Development Program is preparing students to be innovative, socially responsive, ethical and mindful leaders ready to positively impact their communities.
Through hands-on experiences and field trips, students gain the skills and knowledge to graduate prepared to lead. Explore the places our students have been.
Women’s Basketball Game
USFS
Randy Nelson Training Center
Natural Resources Foundation Dinner
DC
Carter-Finley Stadium
Capital One Arena at DC
British Embassy
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of 13
2025-26 Buzzard Fellows
Sidney Boaz
Sidney Boaz is a fourth-year student majoring in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology with a concentration in wildlife science. This past summer, she had the opportunity to participate in an undergraduate research project and complete an internship at Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center, working with freshwater mussels and various conservation efforts that directly affect North Carolina’s native aquatic populations. Boaz is excited to develop valuable leadership skills and broaden her knowledge of the College of Natural Resources through the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program.
Will Craig
Will Craig is a rising fourth-year student majoring in sport management with a minor in business administration. He is from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he developed a love for football. At NC State, Craig played two years on the club flag football team and briefly served as vice president on its executive board. He now works with the university’s football team as a student equipment manager and hopes to work in player personnel for an NCAA or NFL organization. Outside of class, Craig serves as a Poole Peer Leader and was recently named to its executive board. He also enjoys spending time with his fraternity brothers. Craig is excited to join the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program to grow as a leader, build relationships, and learn from industry professionals.
Kate Creech
Kate Creech is a fourth-year student majoring in parks, recreation and tourism management with a concentration in tourism and event management. She is from Greensboro, North Carolina. Creech has been actively involved in the Tourism Management Association and intramural sports. She currently works as the College of Natural Resources recruitment intern. Through these experiences, Creech has been building communication and teamwork skills to support her goal of becoming a leader in the tourism industry. She is passionate about creating long-lasting experiences for others and values opportunities to connect with and learn from new people. Creech is excited to join the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program to grow as a leader, build relationships and learn from industry professionals.
Riley Fields
Riley Fields is a fourth-year student double majoring in sport management and business administration with a concentration in marketing. She is from Raleigh, North Carolina, though she has also spent time in Atlanta, Georgia. Fields works as a recruiting assistant for the NC State football team and as an intern for the Master of Engineering Management program. On campus, she is an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Pi and also serves as a University Ambassador. Following her passion for sports, Fields aims to leverage her marketing, business and sport management background to establish a career in sports — whether on the business side or within collegiate or professional athletics. She is excited for the growth and learning opportunities within the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program.
Abby Hickman
Abby Hickman is a third-year student pursuing a dual major in paper science and engineering and chemical engineering. She is from Lexington, Virginia. Hickman has completed two summer internships with International Paper in Franklin, Virginia. At NC State, Hickman serves as a College of Natural Resources ambassador, a paper science and engineering recruitment intern, a member of the pulp and paper advisory board’s student advisory committee and the pre-night coordinator for the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. As a James Buzzard Leadership Fellow, Hickman is eager to engage with the College of Natural Resources network and enhance her leadership abilities by learning from a diverse array of professionals across the industry.
Hanna Hoeing
Hanna Hoeing is a fourth-year student majoring in sport management with minors in business administration and psychology. She is from Allentown, Pennsylvania. Hoeing is a student manager for the women’s basketball team at NC State, where she is surrounded by exceptional leadership every day. This fall, she will intern with the NC State Athletics Department in the facilities and game-day operations department. Hoeing is passionate about the behind-the-scenes aspects of sports and is excited to further develop her leadership and operations experience. She looks forward to learning from industry professionals and continuing to grow as a future leader in the sports industry. Hoeing hopes to learn more about herself and build new relationships along the way.
McNeill Jordan
McNeill Jordan is a third-year student studying environmental sciences with a focus on environmental restoration and minors in history and environmental technology and management. He is from Matthews, North Carolina. Jordan interned last year at NC State through the Campus As A Classroom Program as a sustainable landscape practices intern and served as a peer leader in the Environmental First Year Program. He loves playing sports and spending time outdoors, and he is motivated to protect the environment for the enjoyment of future generations. Jordan hopes to attend law school and practice environmental law. He is looking forward to becoming more connected with different members of the College of Natural Resources community and developing his leadership skills through active learning opportunities in the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program.
Caitlin Kelly
Caitlin Kelly is a fourth-year student majoring in sport management with minors in business administration, entrepreneurship and global leadership and team decision making. She is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Kelly’s education has broadened her understanding of both domestic and international business. Passionate about fitness, sports, and travel, she brings that energy into all her work. Kelly hopes to become a sports agent, combining her interests in sports, finance and global business. She was part of the 2025 Shelton Leadership Center Global Leadership Minor cohort, an experience that deepened her love for travel and strengthened her commitment to purposeful, values-driven leadership. Kelly looks forward to making a meaningful impact through the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program.
Marley Kelly
Marley Kelly is a fourth-year student majoring in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology with a minor in applied ecology. She is from Hayesville, North Carolina, where she loves to explore the mountains. Kelly is the current president of Leopold Wildlife Club and served as a peer mentor for the TRIO program at NC State. She interned at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and at Wildlands Engineering. Kelly is passionate about connecting people with nature and addressing environmental justice issues. After graduation, she hopes to work toward equitable and sustainable solutions to ecological problems. Through the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program, Kelly hopes to learn how to better connect with communities and develop her personal leadership skills.
Abigail (Abby) Kidder
Abigail Kidder is a fourth-year student majoring in parks, recreation and tourism management with minors in economics and business administration. She is from Lenoir, North Carolina. Kidder is passionate about sustainable tourism and community development. She has conducted research with the People-First Tourism Lab and works with NC State Tourism Extension on the Rural Tourism Institute. Kidder has interned in hospitality and will join a tourism economics consulting team this summer. On campus, she serves as president of the Tourism Management Association and as a team lead for Alternative Service Breaks. Kidder looks forward to growing as a leader through the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program.
Catherine Kirch
Catherine Kirch is a fourth-year student majoring in sustainable materials and technology with minors in environmental sciences and marine science. She is from Cary, North Carolina. Kirch hopes to use her background to advance industrial sustainability and eco-friendly product development. She has been involved in research, student leadership and sustainability initiatives on campus, including a project to recycle 3D printing scraps. This year, Kirch will serve as a James Buzzard Leadership Development Program Fellow, Campus Circularity intern and vice president of the Sustainable Materials and Technology Student Association. She looks forward to growing as a leader and learning from peers and mentors.
Raksha Mahesh
Raksha Mahesh is a fourth-year student majoring in environmental sciences with a data analysis concentration with minors in biological sciences and economics. She was born and raised in Apex, North Carolina. Mahesh has always been passionate about wildlife and natural resources conservation and plans to work in climate mitigation or corporate sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching reality television and hanging out with her friends. Mahesh is excited to join the program and to have the opportunity to grow as a leader, along with building relationships with new people.
Alden Mazo
Alden Mazo is a third-year student majoring in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology with a minor in marine science. She is from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mazo is passionate about the outdoors and spends her free time climbing, running and backpacking. She has been involved with sea turtle research for the past five years and spends her summers working for the Caretta Research Project, a loggerhead sea turtle conservation project in Georgia. Mazo is particularly interested in the ways humans impact sea turtles and the ways we can continue to develop more successful and efficient methods of managing sea turtle populations. Through the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program, Mazo is excited to enhance her leadership skills and become better equipped to tackle challenging environmental issues.
Hannah Miller
Hannah Miller is a fourth-year student majoring in environmental sciences with a focal area in natural resource policy. She is from Charlottesville, Virginia. Miller enjoys the access to environmental stewardship and general appreciation for nature in North Carolina. She became passionate about the environment as a high schooler when she learned about endangered species, water quality and other environmental issues. Pursuing an interdisciplinary major, Miller hopes to work in environmental education in the future, either as a teacher at the high school level or through public outreach in a non-governmental organization. She currently serves as co-president of Epsilon Eta Iota, secretary of the Forestry and Environmental Resources Leadership Board and as a College of Natural Resources ambassador. Using her prior leadership experiences, Miller hopes to elevate and apply her knowledge as a James Buzzard Leadership Fellow.
Rachael Mullins
Rachael Mullins is a fourth-year student double majoring in natural resources (policy and administration) and political science with a focus on conservation policy. She is from the Chicago area and moved to North Carolina to pursue her passion for conservation and public engagement. Mullins has worked as an agricultural research technician studying cover crop sustainability, interned with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation and helped organize a successful mayoral campaign in Raleigh. A NOLS graduate and active Ducks Unlimited volunteer, she hopes to serve in public office to help conserve America’s public lands. Mullins is joining the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program to connect with fellow young leaders and grow her interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
Hana Robinson
Hana Robinson is a fourth-year student majoring in natural resources with a minor in forestry. A non-traditional student, she transferred from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina after working as a phlebotomist during COVID-19. Her service with AmeriCorps NCCC inspired her to return to school and pursue an environmental career. Robinson is passionate about conservation, fire ecology and GIS, and she plans to combine these interests in graduate school and beyond. A Goodnight Scholar, Robinson mentors incoming transfer students, works in an entomology lab and has researched the historical relationship between Native American communities and fire use. She looks forward to building leadership skills and connecting with peers through the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program.
Catherine Stucker
Catherine Stucker is a fourth-year student majoring in sport management with a minor in business administration. She is from Garner, North Carolina. Stucker is passionate about sports, leadership and getting involved in many organizations on campus. She is a Chancellor’s Aide, a College of Natural Resources student ambassador, an intern for Wolfpack Sports Properties, and most recently, an intern with USA Baseball. Stucker’s long-term goal is to become a leader in college athletics or for a professional sports team, specifically focused on operations, marketing and sport administration. She is looking forward to the connections she will make through this program, along with enhancing her leadership skills and collaborating with the rest of the James Buzzard cohort.
Emy Tran
Emy Tran is a fourth-year student double majoring in environmental sciences and fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology with minors in entomology and applied ecology. She is from Staley, North Carolina. Tran plans to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, advocating for a wide range of species by blending her knowledge of wildlife management and ecological systems. She is a member of the Goodnight Scholars Program. Tran served as the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) chair for Epsilon Eta Iota, conducted research in multiple NC State labs and currently serves as a campus leader intern for the nonprofit Pro-Choice North Carolina. She hopes to earn a graduate degree in conservation biology after graduation. Tran looks forward to broadening her horizons, expanding her leadership skills and learning from diverse leaders during her time in the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program.
Susannah Weaver
Susannah Weaver is a fourth-year student majoring in parks, recreation and tourism management with a focus in recreation and park management. She is also pursuing minors in outdoor leadership, environmental education and global leadership and team decision making. A Caldwell Fellow, Weaver is passionate about servant leadership and building inclusive outdoor experiences. Her upbringing inspired her path in community building, which she explores through roles like service learning intern, challenge course facilitator and trip leader with NC State Outdoor Adventures. In 2025, Weaver interned as a field instructor with Voyageur Outward Bound School, leading backcountry expeditions that build resilience. She is committed to expanding access to nature and sees outdoor connection as key to personal and environmental well-being. Through the James Buzzard Leadership Development Program, Weaver looks forward to growing her leadership and impact.
