Caroline Hinton wants to foster a love of learning for all students who walk through her door.
As the director of experiential learning for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Hinton helps students connect with their fields of study outside of the classroom.
“I find joy and excitement in getting to watch students experience different parts of agriculture and find a place in our state’s own agriculture industry,” she said.
Growing up, Hinton knew that she wanted to have a career in agricultural and environmental sciences. She was a part of Georgia 4-H and participated in various livestock programs. Her early connection to agriculture and the University of Georgia through that program led her to enroll in the college majoring in both animal science and agricultural communication.
While pursuing her master’s degree in agricultural and environmental education, she found herself involved with Georgia 4-H again as she worked as the organization’s graduate assistant.
After obtaining her master’s degree in 2021, she began working with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences as a communications associate before becoming the director of experiential learning in 2023. The mentorship and professional experience that she gained as a graduate assistant for Georgia 4-H helped her make the decision to stay with the university.
“Through my experience as a student here, I fell in love with the college, the industry that it serves and the citizens that it produces after graduation,” Hinton said. “I always thought that I would come through, graduate and move on to something else, but it’s been the perfect place for me to give back to a lot of those experiences that I had as a student.”
Hinton takes on several tasks to aid in her mission of experiential learning. She spends the start of the fall semester promoting the college’s experiential learning opportunities, working to establish connections with students at study away fairs and welcome back events. Here, she informs students about the various study away programs, internship opportunities and different resources she can provide.
Along with answering the questions of current students and holding advising appointments, Hinton speaks with prospective students to help them decide if the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is the place for them. Her open-door policy allows her to provide a listening ear to students.
“I always tell students that, if there’s not someone in my chair, they can come on in, and we’ll talk about whatever it may be that they need to discuss,” Hinton said. “Sometimes they need a spot to just decompress for a bit.”
With everything that Hinton does in her position, her main objective is to motivate students to be eager about learning.
“My role right now is getting them excited about experiential learning beyond just checking a box in their Degree Works,” Hinton said. “I really want them to see the value and the excitement in applying that textbook learning into their fields of study.”
These experiential learning opportunities give students the chance to connect with industry professionals and see what their fields have to offer beyond the classroom. With everything from local programs to programs abroad, students can use their textbook knowledge in practical ways.
Hinton wants students to take part in experiential learning opportunities because experiences like that shaped her life. As a child, her family would go on vacations that allowed her and her brothers to learn about the world around them.
“We were always learning something new, even while traveling,” Hinton said, recalling her family’s annual trip to Cades Cove in Tennessee. On the trip, they learned about Appalachian heritage and antique buildings. “My parents instilled in me that love for being a lifelong learner.”
Now, Hinton continues to enjoy spending time with family. She operates a cattle farm with her two brothers and sister-in-law.
“I use my animal science degree at home raising cattle, and then I get to use my agricultural communication degree and agricultural and environmental education degree for the college,” she said.
As Hinton works to get students enthusiastic about educational opportunities in agriculture, she hopes that she can introduce them to the wide range of areas that students can get involved with.
“That is what is really exciting about this role,” she said. “I get to introduce students from Metro Atlanta to opportunities on row crop farms in South Georgia or rural students with biotech companies in suburban Atlanta.”
