The Agriculture & Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR) is one of 11 Centers of Excellence in Washington State that link business, industry, labor, government, and the state’s educational systems to create a highly skilled and readily available workforce critical to the success of the state’s economy.
ANR, a statewide resource housed at Walla Walla Community College, enhances agricultural and natural resource industries in Washington State by supporting programs offered at community and technical colleges – serving 27 of the states 34 colleges. ANR services ensure the efficient use of resources for workforce development activities and initiatives by nurturing a culture of cooperation within the college system, and is a resource to promote agriculture and natural resource education, cultivate relationships that support the creation and sharing of curricula, expand and strengthen degree/certificate programs, and facilitate professional development for college faculty.
Director Lindsey Williams
Lindsey serves as the Director of the Agriculture & Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR), with several years of experience with both the Center of Excellence (COE) model and the Community and Technical College (CTC) system. Prior to her time with ANR, she spent 2 years as Education Assistant for the WWCC Water & Environmental Center. Leaning on her background in forestry and agricultural research, as well as a love for education at multiple levels, she brings a unique level of investment to the agriculture and natural resource sectors in Washington, and education of their workforce.
Lindsey earned her B.S. in Forestry at Washington State University, and while doing so, worked for the USDA-ARS in Grain Legume Genetics research, which gave her an unexpected, but welcome, love of agriculture. She graduated from AgForestry Class 40, after two years representing ANR statewide while focusing on agricultural leadership with classmates from a wide variety of agriculture and natural resource backgrounds, and now serves as the Program Manager for Class 43 while AgForestry completes a long-term strategic planning process. Lindsey also holds Executive Certificates from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion, Marketing Strategy, and Project Leadership.
With ANR, Lindsey serves as Chair and Legislative Outreach Chair for the statewide consortium of COEs. She has been able to bring her enthusiasm for education and Washington’s agriculture and natural resources together to assist colleges and industry partners statewide with connection opportunities, global recognition, and community education, while continually increasing her knowledge about the many facets of these industries.
To contact Lindsey: 509.527.4635 or [email protected]
Program Specialist Ceana Pacheco
Ceana is the Program Specialist for the Agriculture and Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR), housed at Walla Walla Community College. ANR serves as the connecting fabric for industry, business, education, labor, and the legislature in support of agriculture and natural resource programming at community colleges in Washington State. Ceana works on developing educational materials, connecting students to jobs in agriculture and natural resource industries, collaborating with education and industry partners, and supporting the development and scaling of career connected learning opportunities statewide.
Ceana is proficient at implementing systems thinking principles and practices to improve existing processes, ultimately developing a more three-dimensional mindset. By applying a systems thinking lens, she strives to support the development and sharing of accessible and equitable educational pathways into agriculture and natural resource industries, supporting Washington State’s green economy. From the K-12 system to careers in agriculture and natural resources, she works to support a robust and resilient agriculture and natural resource workforce.
In her personal life, Ceana is particularly interested in beaver-based restoration in agricultural landscapes. She and her family homestead on a farm in eastern Oregon where beavers dot the landscape, mending previously degraded riparian zones. She enjoys documenting this process as a citizen scientist. Ceana graduated from Portland State University with a B.S in Environmental Studies with a Minor in Geography.
To contact Ceana: 509-527-4635 or [email protected]
Program Manager Devyn Meilleur
Devyn is the Program Manager for the Agriculture and Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR). She is passionate about the mission of ANR to collaborate with partners in business, industry, and education in an effort to create a more equitable workforce. Devyn supports ongoing work with Career Connect Washington to identify gaps in career connected learning and scale-up those opportunities that are already in place.
Devyn graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Science Production. While there she developed a greater appreciation not only for education but for agriculture and all those who serve the industry. Devyn’s personal interests including angling, backpacking, and hunting over the past 15 years have provided her with a tremendous understanding and gratitude for natural resources and the many industries that serve it.
To contact Devyn: [email protected]
Agriculture Data Intern Mackenzie Forney
Mackenzie is the Agriculture Data Intern for the Agriculture and Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR). With an extensive background in agriculture, she is thrilled to play a part in promoting agriculture and natural resources in the workforce. Mackenzie completed her AA in Agriculture Economics from Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) and transferred to the University of Idaho in 2021. After spending two summers working in the sweet corn fields for Syngenta, she found her true career interest and transferred back to WWCC. Mackenzie is currently enrolled in the BAS in Agricultural Systems-Ag Business emphasis program and will be graduating with an Animal Science certificate as well this spring. Some personal interests of hers include horseback riding, gardening, and making western jewelry.