She is the second member of her family to graduate from Penn State, following her mother, Meg Rupert, who earned a master’s degree in education back in 1999.
Rupert loves the hands-on learning opportunities in her program. The food science labs let students create their own foods and experience every part of the process, from taste testing to packaging. They have access to modern equipment in both wet and dry labs, and undergraduates can dive into research early on.
Pursuing a minor in international agriculture, Rupert interned with Flower Foods in Philadelphia and PepsiCo in Valhalla, New York. As a student in the Schreyer Honors College, she focused on food safety and presented her thesis on Salmonella in hydroponic systems.
Brian Adair, an undergraduate program support specialist, praised Rupert. “Watching her grow into a confident food scientist has been amazing. I’m sure she’ll bring the same energy and determination to Kraft Heinz,” he said.
Though Rupert does not come from an agricultural background, she found joy in learning about the food system—ranging from the livestock barns to food processing labs at Penn State. As president of Sigma Alpha, a sorority for agricultural professionals, she led community improvement projects, such as trail maintenance at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.
Her education and study-abroad experiences enhanced her understanding of global food systems. “My insights into global food systems shape how I view food production. We must consider how our choices affect that system,” Rupert explained.
For those interested in food and agriculture, she emphasizes that you don’t need an agricultural background to thrive at the College of Agricultural Sciences. “There’s a welcoming community here, making it feel like a small school among the vastness of Penn State,” she shared.
Recent data shows that the global food supply chain is increasingly important, with food security becoming a key concern for many countries. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, nearly 690 million people faced hunger in 2019, and this number has likely increased due to recent global challenges.
Overall, Rupert’s journey reflects the importance of education and community support in shaping future leaders in agriculture and food science.
