An Aggie family formed in Fuzhou
Tabors put down personal and professional roots in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology
When Shane Tabor ’17 stepped into a classroom in Fuzhou, China, in 2015, he did not expect to meet his future wife, let alone build a life with her so strongly influenced by science, service and shared purpose.
Alice Tabor ’17, then a student at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, was participating in a faculty-led study abroad program that brought faculty and students from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to China. Among them was Shane, a third-generation Aggie on his first trip outside the United States.
The program, supported by the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, encouraged cultural exchange and student collaboration. For Alice and Shane, it also became the beginning of something lasting.
“It was my first experience with how welcoming and supportive Texas A&M could be,” Alice said. “The professors encouraged critical thinking and cross-cultural discussion in a way that was completely new to me. I knew I wanted to be part of that.”
Though they met during the program, Alice’s decision to attend Texas A&M had nothing to do with Shane.
“I already knew I wanted to study in the United States and get my degree,” she said. “After meeting Texas A&M faculty and students and seeing how committed they were to students like me, it just felt like the right place.”
From China to College Station
When Alice arrived in College Station as a visiting scholar and later an international transfer student, she and Shane reconnected as friends and found themselves drawn to the same place — the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology. Both were eager to get involved, and the department provided the kind of close-knit, mentorship-driven community they were both seeking.
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Alice took a student assistant role in the department’s business office, and Shane began working as a lab assistant with Joshua Yuan, Ph.D., professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering. For the Tabors, these positions offered more than just part-time jobs. They gave both students access to faculty mentorship, research experience and exposure to the department’s strong professional network.
“We were constantly surrounded by people who believed in us,” Alice said. “Dr. (Heather) Wilkinson, Dr. (Kati) Stoddard, Dr. (Charles) Kenerley, Dr. (Daniel) Ebbole and Dr. (Won Bo) Shim weren’t just teachers. They advised us on school, life and how to navigate the future.”
Both also became deeply involved in student organizations, especially the National Association of Environmental Professionals, NAEP, student chapter. Shane served as vice president and later president. Their involvement with NAEP exposed them to the Bioenvironmental Sciences, BESC, Professional Board, an industry advisory group tied closely to the department’s undergraduate bioenvironmental science program.
“I wasn’t someone who joined every club,” Shane said. “But being part of the department and NAEP just made it feel natural. Everyone around us cared about the same things and wanted to help each other succeed.”
Faculty creates community
Outside of class, the department created a sense of community that extended well beyond academics. From tailgates to stream cleanups to chili cook-offs, Alice and Shane made some of their favorite memories among classmates, faculty and staff.
Alice recalled one cook-off where the couple entered a Chinese-inspired chili.
“I thought maybe we’d get most authentic,” she laughed. “I didn’t expect to win anything. But we actually won the ‘best chili,’ and the department still has the Texas-shaped wooden plaque with our names on it.”
As they moved through the program, their friendship slowly evolved into something more.
“Somewhere along the way, between late-night planning for NAEP events and just spending so much time together, we realized we didn’t want to do any of it without each other,” Shane said.
“We were mentored by professionals who gave us the confidence to navigate our careers. Now we get to be those mentors.”
Shane Tabor ’17
Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology Former Student
Mentees become mentors
After graduation and their wedding, both Alice and Shane continued their careers in environmental science. Alice is now an associate consultant at BSI America, specializing in environmental health and safety. Shane works as a regional manager for an environmental mitigation materials company, Epro Services, helping redevelop contaminated sites across North America.
They are also parents to two daughters. Though life looks different than it did as students in College Station, the department remains a constant presence in their lives. Both now eagerly serve on the BESC Professional Board. They return to campus regularly, reviewing student resumes, attending departmental events and speaking at career panels.
“We were mentored by professionals who gave us the confidence to navigate our careers,” Shane said. “Now we get to be those mentors.”
“I remember how much it meant to hear, ‘You can do this,’ from someone who had already done it,” Alice said. “We want to be that voice for students just starting out.”
A department that shaped a family
For Alice and Shane, the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology offered more than a degree. It shaped the way they work, give back and raise their daughters.
“I want our girls to see that you can do hard things and still have a community that supports you,” Alice said. “Plant pathology and microbiology wasn’t just where I learned environmental science. It was where I learned that you don’t have to do anything alone.”
Shane agreed. “The department has always been about more than academics. They taught us about integrity, taking care of people and doing things the right way. We carry that with us everywhere — in our work, home and every time we return to Aggieland.”
