Howdy Folks!

My name is Sarah Pisquiy, and I am excited to announce that I am your new Extension Agent for Better Living for Texans.

I was raised in Wide Awake Wylie, which was once known to be a small town about 12 miles East of Plano. However, things are much different for Wylie, Texas as it has grown to become a booming city! I spent many summers out at Lake Lavon fishing, collecting plants, and spending time with my friends and family!

My initial plans were to pursue nursing at Texas A&M and continue the Aggie Legacy within my family. However, I have always been known as a rebel and I wanted to explore a new avenue! This led me to Texas Woman’s University where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor degree in Nutritional Sciences.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I consistently found myself jumping into gardening projects and community outreach programs. While at TWU my fellow peers and I advocated for an environmental project at the TechConnect World Conference’s Innovation Showcase in Washington D.C. It was at this conference, we were able to present research and receive grant funding of $15,000 for the first phase of the Dr. Bettye Meyers Butterfly Garden. This project transformed campus lawns into Sustainable Pollinator Gardens for Habitat and Education. Our initiative brought awareness to the importance of plant restoration, pollinator habitat, and sustainable gardening practices for students and those in the Denton community.

As a nutrition major, I was invited by Dr. Helen Everts to join her research team investigating Vitamin A Metabolism. Her research focused on the Regulation of Retinol Dehydrogenase by Ultraviolet Light B. Throughout this experience I perfected numerous lab techniques such as nucleic acid expression and localization. Spending many hours in the lab is an undergraduate memory that I will always cherish!

After graduation, my passion for helping others grew! I knew that I wanted to continue inspiring, educating, and serving my community. Since graduation, I have started a non-profit organization on Facebook, where I offer basic nutrition knowledge in Spanish. My vision was to translate information from English to Spanish, and over a few months, my outreach grew. I currently have members from all areas such as California, Florida, and Central America! However, as I try to better serve my community, I continually find myself seeking greater understanding of nutrition and horticulture as it has significant impacts on community health.

I am excited to serve as your Extension Agent for Better Living for Texans. I am looking forward to future projects and the opportunities to learn from each and every one of the Master Gardeners, Agents, and Project Specialists.

Sincerely,

Sarah Ashley Pisquiy

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” — John F. Kennedy