Urban Ag Alumni
Urban Agriculture Program Prepares Graduates for Rewarding Careers
By Jorge Haddad
Loyola’s Urban Agricultural Program has been a part of the university for almost ten years. Many School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) alums who participated in the program as students have gone on to successful careers connected to agriculture and sustainability. Some of these graduates shared their thoughts about their time in the Urban Agriculture Program and how their experiences helped them find their paths after graduating.
Susanna Lohmar
Susanna Lohmar recently started her own flower studio on Asheville, NC.
Susanna Lohmar graduated with a BS in environmental science with a concentration in food systems and sustainable agriculture. She minored in studio art--drawing and painting. In 2013, Susanna was one of the first students hired to work in the SES greenhouse (previously known as the IES Ecodome), where she was a student worker until 2015. She also helped manage some of the outdoor gardens, including Winthrop Garden and a raised bed garden that used to be on top of the Life Science Building. Susanna also sold produce and tilapia at the Loyola Farmers Market, where to this day, they are still using the sign she designed.
Susanna now manages a greenhouse and recently started a flower studio in Asheville, NC, called Plein Air Flowers. She is thankful to Kevin Erickson, the senior sustainable agriculture manager, and everyone she worked with at the Urban Agriculture Program for teaching her so much about growing and managing a garden and deepening her love for nature.
Alyssa Alcordo
Alyssa Alcordo works for Urban Growers Collective, a nonprofit vegetable farm operating on Chicago's South Side.
Alyssa Alcordo graduated in 2020 with a major in environmental studies and a minor in business administration. She interned with the Urban Agriculture Program in her senior year. Because she interned during winter, she focused on working with and maintaining the aquaponics systems, doing marketing and website design, and creating the summer season crop plan. Alyssa thanks Loyola and the Urban Agriculture Program for inspiring her to pursue a career in farming. Before joining the program, Alyssa intended to work in the sustainable building and packaging sector. However, once she got a taste of urban agriculture, she was “enticed by the joys of working with plants.” Kevin Erickson suggested that Alyssa spend a summer working on a farm to earn money and gain skills. She says she never imagined working on a farm, but then she found herself graduating amidst a pandemic when job selection was very limited. She took a chance and worked on a vegetable farm in northern Washington and has been farming ever since.
Today, Alyssa works for a nonprofit vegetable farm called Urban Growers Collective. The collective operates eight urban farms on 11 acres of city land, predominantly on Chicago’s South Side. Alyssa loves working with her hands and has never felt more alive than when working so connected to mother nature. She is grateful to the Urban Ag Program for helping her discover her love for farm work and encouraging her and other students to voice their ideas.
Maggie Nykaza
Maggie Nykaza is the garden communications manager at The Organic Gardener, Ltd. in Northbrook, IL.
Maggie Nykaza is an SES alum who graduated in 2018. She majored in environmental science--food systems and sustainable agriculture and minored in French. Maggie was an Urban Ag Intern for three years, from her sophomore year through her senior year. Working at the Urban Ag Program helped her gain a broader view of the food systems we have created as a society and their impacts on our health, communities, and the environment.
Maggie now works as the garden communications manager at The Organic Gardener, Ltd. in Northbrook, IL. The Organic Gardener builds and maintains organic vegetable gardens throughout the Midwest for residential clients, prominent businesses, and schools. Maggie enjoys working for an industry she is passionate about. She also loves knowing that her work positively impacts many individuals and their relationship with sustainable food.
By Jorge Haddad
Loyola’s Urban Agricultural Program has been a part of the university for almost ten years. Many School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) alums who participated in the program as students have gone on to successful careers connected to agriculture and sustainability. Some of these graduates shared their thoughts about their time in the Urban Agriculture Program and how their experiences helped them find their paths after graduating.
Susanna Lohmar graduated with a BS in environmental science with a concentration in food systems and sustainable agriculture. She minored in studio art--drawing and painting. In 2013, Susanna was one of the first students hired to work in the SES greenhouse (previously known as the IES Ecodome), where she was a student worker until 2015. She also helped manage some of the outdoor gardens, including Winthrop Garden and a raised bed garden that used to be on top of the Life Science Building. Susanna also sold produce and tilapia at the Loyola Farmers Market, where to this day, they are still using the sign she designed.
Susanna now manages a greenhouse and recently started a flower studio in Asheville, NC, called Plein Air Flowers. She is thankful to Kevin Erickson, the senior sustainable agriculture manager, and everyone she worked with at the Urban Agriculture Program for teaching her so much about growing and managing a garden and deepening her love for nature.
Alyssa Alcordo graduated in 2020 with a major in environmental studies and a minor in business administration. She interned with the Urban Agriculture Program in her senior year. Because she interned during winter, she focused on working with and maintaining the aquaponics systems, doing marketing and website design, and creating the summer season crop plan. Alyssa thanks Loyola and the Urban Agriculture Program for inspiring her to pursue a career in farming. Before joining the program, Alyssa intended to work in the sustainable building and packaging sector. However, once she got a taste of urban agriculture, she was “enticed by the joys of working with plants.” Kevin Erickson suggested that Alyssa spend a summer working on a farm to earn money and gain skills. She says she never imagined working on a farm, but then she found herself graduating amidst a pandemic when job selection was very limited. She took a chance and worked on a vegetable farm in northern Washington and has been farming ever since.
Today, Alyssa works for a nonprofit vegetable farm called Urban Growers Collective. The collective operates eight urban farms on 11 acres of city land, predominantly on Chicago’s South Side. Alyssa loves working with her hands and has never felt more alive than when working so connected to mother nature. She is grateful to the Urban Ag Program for helping her discover her love for farm work and encouraging her and other students to voice their ideas.
Maggie Nykaza is an SES alum who graduated in 2018. She majored in environmental science--food systems and sustainable agriculture and minored in French. Maggie was an Urban Ag Intern for three years, from her sophomore year through her senior year. Working at the Urban Ag Program helped her gain a broader view of the food systems we have created as a society and their impacts on our health, communities, and the environment.
Maggie now works as the garden communications manager at The Organic Gardener, Ltd. in Northbrook, IL. The Organic Gardener builds and maintains organic vegetable gardens throughout the Midwest for residential clients, prominent businesses, and schools. Maggie enjoys working for an industry she is passionate about. She also loves knowing that her work positively impacts many individuals and their relationship with sustainable food.