Jessica Graves

jgraves@huntington.edu

Joined the Huntington University faculty in 2024.

Dr. Jessica Graves, Director of International Capacity Development with M4 Institute, hails from Vance, AL where her agricultural roots were established on her family’s cow-calf operation. She currently resides in Starkville, MS on a small, diversified farm/ranch with her husband, Kenneth, and two children, Bryar and Brynlee Rose. Dr. Graves is an advocate for farmers and ranchers and was recently selected as one of ten individuals from across the nation to participate in the American Farm Bureau Federation Partners in Advocacy Leadership (PAL) program.

Dr. Graves earned her degrees from Mississippi State University (MSU) in Animal & Dairy Sciences (BS), Agriculture – concentration in animal nutrition (MS), and Agricultural and Extension Education (PhD). She served in many student-facing roles during her 12 years at MSU. She led fruitful student recruitment efforts, provided top-notch academic advising services, and gained positive rapport among students through the variety of classes she taught. The scope of her teaching assignments has ranged from discipline-specific to general education courses which allow students in non-agricultural majors to learn about the impact of animal agriculture across society. She will tell you quickly that her favorite classes to teach, however, are those with an international component whether in content alone or ones crafted for students to share their knowledge and skills such as community-engaged learning study abroad programs. She has led numerous teams of students on study abroad programs to locations such as Vietnam, Grenada, Haiti, Kenya, Cambodia, and Guatemala, and has been recognized for her international work.

In August 2023, Dr. Graves stepped away from her full-time administrative role at MSU to join the M4 Institute team in obedience to God’s call for her life. Her heart’s desire is to enhance the lives of individuals, families, and communities in rural areas through agricultural activities while extending the love of Jesus Christ. She is known for her work training women in the Western Highlands of Guatemala how to raise rabbits as a sustainable animal protein source to combat food insecurity and malnutrition – at the household level. Malnutrition in the Western Highlands is exacerbated by extreme poverty – women and children being among the most vulnerable. She believes poverty alleviation first begins through having a relationship with Christ, and she aims to empower followers of Jesus to share their knowledge, skills, and gifts to serve others around the globe.

Dr. Graves is offering a series of courses that will equip learners to be practitioners in agricultural missions and ministry. Learners will evaluate global poverty through a Christian lens, explore international agricultural systems, examine international agricultural education methods and approaches, and initiate Christ-centered agricultural development solutions.

Rooted in Christ. Sowing Seeds of Hope. Growing the Kingdom.