Highlights

• A 2015 Penn State graduate who is currently a Director of Student Recruitment and Activities for the College of Agricultural Sciences.
• Baker urges students look beyond the stereotypes that often confine Ag sciences to farming. She wants them to see all the other topics it covers such as food sciences and environmental studies.
• Her main piece of advice to current and prospective students is to reach out and make those Penn State connections because they will stick with you for life. Don’t be afraid!

Marra’s Story

Marra Baker graduated from Penn State in 2015 with a bachelor of arts degree in Communications and then earned her master’s degree in the Psychology of Leadership program in 2018. She is currently the Director of Student Recruitment and Activities for the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State. 

Marra began and finished her Penn State journey at Penn State Altoona. She was fortunate enough to graduate early and start a career right away. But before becoming part of a successful Undergraduate Admissions Office, recruitment team for Penn State, Marra’s passion for communication and leadership began on the farm where she grew up. After going to several state fairs and other similar functions, Marra realized that she had a passion for talking to people; not just surface-level but really getting to know people. 

After discovering her passion for communication, Marra decided to apply to Penn State because of all the great professional connections that she would be able to make and because of all the experience that she would get. Marra did not get too involved in clubs or organizations during her freshman year, but the following years were the complete opposite. She was in everything,  from the President of the Campus Activities Board, a Lion Ambassador and Vice President of her sorority Alpha Sigma Tau. One of Marra’s greatest accomplishments while in school was being named the recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award which is based on leadership and academic success. 

Right after graduation Marra was fortunate enough to be offered a job as an out-of-state recruiter for Penn State’s Undergraduate Admissions Office. Because she grew up on a farm, she did not get the opportunity to travel much, so this was a way for her to explore other parts of the country and share her Penn State journey with prospective students. Marra stayed in this position for three years before she found an opening in the College of Agricultural Sciences as a Director of Student Recruitment and Activities. 

Because Marra came from an agricultural background, working in this college felt pretty natural for her. She enjoys helping students find their fit within the college and breaking the stereotype built up around it. 

Marra said the key phrase they tell current and prospective students is that agricultural sciences is “more than cows, plows and sows.” 

Her goal was to teach students that agricultural sciences is more than just farming, crops and animals. It is immunology and infectious diseases, pharmacology, toxicology, environmental and food studies too. Marra wanted to do her best to sell these lesser known points of the college. She describes herself as a “fair queen for a college” who does what she loves best; helping students find their way. 

Marra knew that she wanted to be a mentor for incoming students because of the profound impact that her mentors had on her. She wanted to be able to give back and provide the same support that she was shown when she was a student. Because about 80% of the students in the College of Agricultural Sciences do not come from an agricultural background, she wanted to be able to show them that the whole college is here for them. As an advisor, Marra is able to pair her communication’s background with her leadership skills in order to best help her students and  see them grow while in school.

Some advice that Marra has for incoming or prospective students is to apply for outside scholarships. She is very aware of how expensive Penn State can be for both in and out-of-state students. Outside scholarships give students the chance at a little more money saved on the overall cost of school. She also stresses the importance of time management, especially in today’s world where everything is always changing. It is important to stay organized and on top of tasks in order to be the most successful. 

Marra’s final thoughts and advice to current and incoming student’s is to “go for it!” and “don’t ever tell yourself no, always ask for help.” 

She stresses the importance in getting out there and trying new things. Make connections with your upperclassmen and professors and do not be afraid to use them some day. It was because of her connections that Marra is where she is today. There is no reason to be embarrassed or nervous. This is a time of life where you learn a lot about yourself and grow. 

Marra believes that “you learn more about yourself outside of the classroom than you do inside the classroom.” It is still important to study but you also have to find out about what you do and do not like in order to grow. Do not let stereotypes of any kind stand in the way of finding yourself.