From Texas to Namibia: An agricultural leadership journey

One grew up under the vast skies of rural West Texas. The other spent her early years navigating life across the Middle East and South America. Zoee Nolen ’26 and Meredith Macfadyen ’26 came from opposite worlds.

This summer, their paths converged in the heart of southern Africa. Through the 2025 Namibia Education Abroad program, they found not only common ground but a shared sense of purpose that left a lasting mark.

As part of the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, the program immerses students in international agriculture, leadership development and cross-cultural learning. For two weeks, Nolen and Macfadyen explored Namibia alongside fellow Aggies on an academic and cultural journey, returning home with new insights and new questions.

Led by Jack Elliot, Ph.D., regional director for Africa at the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development, and Lori Moore, Ph.D., associate professor in the department, the Namibia Education Abroad program immersed students in real-world agricultural issues, ecological diversity and cross-cultural leadership.

Why choose an education abroad in Namibia?

While many students opt for more common destinations in Europe or Central America, Namibia offers something different. For many students, it’s their first time in Africa, and it offers a rare opportunity to experience leadership, agriculture and development through a completely different lens.

“I began working with the University of Namibia and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia in 1999, and since 2011, I have been taking students there through the Namibia Education Abroad program,” Elliot said.

“With their own eyes, these students observe the challenges and unique, practical solutions that Namibians implement in one of the driest countries on the planet. Our Aggies gain a level of global competence that will serve them far into the future because of this trip.”

That global awareness is one of the driving forces behind the program’s growing reputation as a high-impact learning experience in agricultural leadership.

“I wanted a faculty-led program with structure and purpose,” Macfadyen, an agricultural leadership and development major, said. “This trip was incredibly well-organized and gave me a chance to apply what I’ve been learning in class to real-world situations.”

Cultural immersion and global agricultural education

Nolen and Macfadyen explored far more than just landscapes on their trip to Namibia. The itinerary included visits to the University of Namibia’s agricultural college, guided hikes in national parks and conversations with tribal leaders and local experts. They also visited Windhoek, Etosha National Park, Walvis Bay and rural villages, connecting directly with local agribusinesses and communities.

They also engaged directly with sustainable agricultural practices and environmentally conscious farming methods, gaining insights into how communities adapt to climate extremes and resource limitations.

“I was amazed by how environmentally aware Namibia is,” Macfadyen said. “Their agriculture is shaped by necessity, and that level of adaptability was something I had never seen before.”

Moore said this type of field-based learning creates a long-term impact.

“This program serves as a catalyst for transformational learning,” she said. “Students confront unfamiliar perspectives, navigate ambiguity and reflect critically on their experiences. They connect classroom theory with field-based complexity and often undergo a lasting shift in understanding and worldview.”

Leadership, in theory and in action

Agricultural leadership and development is an academic cornerstone of the Namibia Education Abroad program. While abroad, students take a course, Survey of Leadership Theory, and are tasked with identifying and analyzing leadership strategies they see in practice.

For Nolen, the experience came full circle. After first joining the Namibia program in 2024 as a student, she returned this year in a new role, serving as the program assistant and helping support both faculty and students throughout the trip. With her previous experience in mind, she approached this summer’s journey with a different lens, focusing not only on her own learning but also on building community and guiding others through it.

“Coming back and seeing the trip from a leadership role gave me a much deeper understanding of what situational leadership looks like outside the U.S.,” she said. “Watching how different communities lead and adapt made those theories come to life in a way that built on what I’d learned as a student.”

Macfadyen agreed and reflected on how applying leadership models in cross-cultural settings challenged her assumptions and opened her thinking.

“Learning how different communities lead and collaborate made me realize how important it is to approach leadership with humility and context,” she said.

Unforgettable moments and new perspectives

Throughout the trip, each day brought opportunities for reflection and growth. One impactful highlight was visiting the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, where students met with American diplomats and learned about international service and policy. For both Nolen and Macfadyen, it was a meaningful look at how global relationships are built.

“As someone who grew up overseas, I’ve always known what an embassy does in theory,” Macfadyen said. “But seeing it in action made it real. For me, it was one of the most educational parts of the trip.”

For Nolen, the embassy visit sparked something even deeper: a new curiosity for international service.

“I realized this is something I could actually do,” she said. “That visit helped me imagine a different path.”

Looking back and moving forward

Returning to College Station, both Nolen and Macfadyen are looking forward to carrying the experience with them, not just in what they had academically learned, but also in how they see the world.

“You come back with questions, not just answers,” Macfadyen said. “And that curiosity sticks with you.”

For Nolen, the biggest takeaway was learning how to build connections, across cultures, languages and comfort zones.

“This trip challenged me to grow in every way,” she said. “And it reminded me how much there is to learn when you’re willing to listen.”

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Step into a transformative education abroad experience that blends cross-cultural connection, hands-on learning and leadership development. Discover how the Namibia program could shape your own journey.

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