Buffalo, NY — No two workdays look the same for Sofia Russo ‘25. One moment she’s elbows-deep in soil; the next, she’s leading a workshop in her new role as the Agriculture Program Coordinator for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County.
“Currently I’m working on a big project to bring a community demo garden to the Jamestown Community College campus. My time has been split between growing plants, getting workshop materials together, and scheduling events for this upcoming session.”
It’s a role she never imagined when she first arrived at Canisius with plans to study biology on the pre-med track. Like many students, Russo’s college journey took an unexpected — and ultimately fulfilling—turn.
“I chose Canisius for its strong sense of community,” said Russo. “The small class sizes and the low professor-to-student ratio really stood out. I knew I’d thrive in an environment where I could build close relationships with my professors, and that’s exactly what happened.” But after just one semester, she realized that her interests lay elsewhere.
She had always loved biology but discovered she was more drawn to the natural sciences than the human sciences. That’s when she found the ABEC program—Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation.
“The courses were much more appealing to my interests. It worked out perfectly,” said Russo.
Hands-on learning quickly became a cornerstone of her experience. Her first internship had her working on a spotted lanternfly research program through the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Lake Erie Regional Grape Program.
“I spent lots of time collecting bug specimens, compiling field data, and attending meetings,” she said. Then came an opportunity with the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) in Buffalo—a turning point that would shape her career trajectory. “This kickstarted my love for urban agriculture,” said Russo.
Thanks to her hands-on experience and strong academic foundation, she landed her full-time job immediately after graduating from Canisius.
“I really liked the fact that I could use my academic background to help support local food systems. These internships gave me a solid foundation of research skills as well as field experience that prepared me for my current role.”
She says her journey is a testament to the versatility of a Canisius degree and the value of following your interests — even when they lead you somewhere unexpected.
“You’re not confined to your major,” she reflects. “Your academic background is a guide, not a boundary. For ABEC students especially, remember that your career doesn’t have to be solely animal focused. There are plenty of opportunities to work with ecology and conservation as well.”
Now, through her work in community agriculture, she’s not only growing plants — she’s helping grow a more sustainable, connected future.
In the meantime, Russo says she’s plenty busy adjusting to full-time work but admits that in her downtime she’s often filling her shopping cart with things she doesn’t really need—because, as she puts it, “I can always justify a good sale.”
