Science, Education, and Extension (SEE) Inside Greek Agriculture provided 17 NC State students hands-on opportunities in farms, food production and processing, agriculture, agricultural education, extension, and history. During this June 2026 study abroad program, students explored farms, agricultural education and advisory services, culture, and much more. "Every year this program engages NC State students to expand their global learning and agricultural science expertise. Students experience a different culture and different food systems" said Dr. Joseph Donaldson, associate professor and director of undergraduate programs in Agricultural and Human Sciences, who designed and directed SEE Inside Greek Agriculture.
NC State Students Explore Greek Agriculture
(Updated: June 22, 2026, 3:06 p.m.)
The Parthenon’s ancient columns provided the perfect setting for a group picture of NC State’s 2026 SEE Inside Greek Agriculture Scholars.
In addition to Donaldson, Ms. Savannah Nevarez, Academic Advisor with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Ms. Mikayla Daniels, Graduate Teaching Assistant, from the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, assisted in conducting the program. Students visited Thessaloniki, Chania (on the island of Crete), and Athens, Greece. In Thessaloniki, students stayed in residence halls on the campus of American Farm School and Perrotis College. The school features a dairy, vineyards, olive groves, and greenhouses, all amplifying the institution's experiential education. Greek faculty provided NC State students daily, hands-on lessons including:
- Agricultural Extension in Greece
- Greek Mediterranean Diet and Culture
- Olive Oil Production, Processing, Tasting, and Sensory Analysis
- The Science and Art of Natural Skincare
- Aromatic Herbs Cultivation and Essential Oils
NC State doctoral student Shonna Smith (Agricultural Education and Human Sciences) creates balms and salves using beeswax, calendula oil, olive oil, and more natural products as part of the natural skincare class.
Donaldson described the visionary partnership between NC State and American Farm School/Perrotis College as “interdisciplinary, research-based learning that immerses NC State students in Greek agriculture and culture." American Farm School, located in Thessaloniki, Greece, is an independent, nonprofit school founded by Dr. John Henry House in 1904. American Farm School divisions include a primary school, middle school, vocational high school, general high school, and Perrotis College.
Panos Mouriki, Mouriki Greek Premium Honey, demonstrated beekeeping and showcased tasting six different honey varieties with NC State students.
NC State's 2026 SEE Inside Greek Agriculture Scholars were:
- Shonna Smith, Graduate, Agricultural Education and Human Sciences
- Kendall Brewer, Sophomore, Animal Science
- Elise Wetzelberger, Sophomore, Food Science
- Katie Jo Staley, Senior, Agricultural Science (Extension Education Minor)
- Caroline Becker, Junior, Agricultural Science
- Valentina Munar Marin, Junior, Nutrition Science
- Lauren Hoesli, Senior, Communication and Agricultural Science
- Kaitlyn Nichols, Junior, Agricultural Education
- Zoe Ward, Junior, Agricultural Science
- Cecilia Maxwell, Senior, Agricultural Education (Extension Education Minor)
- Victoria Scarbro, Senior, Agri Business Management (Extension Education Minor)
- Emily Palmer, Senior, Chemical Engineering
- Ryan Ferreri, Sophomore, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
- Jackson Pepitone, Freshman, Agri Business Management
- Knox Trask, Junior, Agri Business Management
- Adilee Rich, Junior, Agricultural Science
- Isabel Baillie, Graduate, Physiology
NC State students explored Marianna’s Vineleaves which highlighted 15 value-added products, all produced on 85 acres.
SEE Inside Greek Agriculture cultivates the major Greek agricultural science issues that have relevance for North Carolina and the United States, including food labelling and composition, olive oil tasting and sensory analysis, and aromatic herbs cultivation. Greek agricultural farms and firms who welcomed and educated NC State students included:
- Marianna's Vine Leaves (vine leaves and value-added products)
- Gerovassileou Winery (wines, wine museum, and vineyards)
- Klea Premium Products (olive oil)
- Mouriki Greek Premium Honey (beekeeping and honey)
- Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete (olive oil, horticulture, agricultural education, and sustainability)
- Fabrica Farm and Houses (food animal agriculture, horticulture, Greek cooking and Greek culture)
- Terra Creta Olive Oil (olive oil)
- Olive Tree Museum of Vouves (world’s oldest olive tree)
NC State students Zoe Ward (Agricultural Science) and Valentina Munar Marin (Nutrition Science) start dinner preparations with Fabrica House and Farm staff and other students. The group was completely immersed in the science, culture, and agriculture of the Greek Mediterranean Diet.
SEE Inside Greek Agriculture exposed students to olive production, processing, and marketing, including agritourism. Students studied olive oil tasting and sensory analysis with Klea Premium Olive Oil and Terra Creta. Dimitrius Psathas taught students harvesting, milling, extraction, storage.
Additionally, the program challenges students to compare and contrast the U.S. Cooperative Extension System to Greek extension and advisory services. Plans for the 2027 SEE Inside Greek Agriculture are already underway, and both graduate and undergraduate students may contact Dr. Joseph Donaldson for additional information.
