08/24/2026
Classes may have just started today, but our Aggie Poultry Ambassadors got a head start on the school year at their annual APA Retreat last week!
Members spent the retreat setting goals for the year ahead, learning more about themselves through a StrengthsQuest workshop, strengthening their team, and building leadership and recruiting skills they’ll use throughout the year.
We were grateful to have several leaders from across Texas A&M invest their time and expertise in our ambassadors:
• Dr. Megan Hamlin, Director of Former Student Programs, The Association of Former Students
• Dr. Chad Nelson, Instructional Associate Professor, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
• Dr. Chris Skaggs, Associate Vice Chancellor for Stakeholder Relations and Associate Dean for Student Development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Dr. Audrey McElroy, Professor and Head, Department of Poultry Science
• Amanda Webb & Brylee Williams, Program Coordinators, Department of Poultry Science
• Lesley Gleason, Program Manager, Department of Poultry Science
The group also enjoyed dinner with longtime APA donors and supporters Bill and Barbara Huffman, and General John Van Alstyne, Director of the Business Fellows Program, providing another opportunity for students to connect with and learn from those who continue to invest in their growth.
A very special thank you to Lesley Gleason for the time and thought she put into organizing this year’s retreat. As a longtime advisor to APA, Lesley has invested countless hours into the organization and, more importantly, into the students who are part of it. From creating high-impact learning and professional development opportunities to connecting students with leaders across Texas A&M and the poultry industry, she continues to challenge our ambassadors to grow beyond the classroom and make the most of their time at Texas A&M.
We’re excited to see our ambassadors put what they learned into action throughout the upcoming year!
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