From the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences....

The International Student of the Week for this week is Brenda Tubana. She is a graduate student in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and is in the process of getting her Ph.D. in soil fertility under Dr. Raun. She is from the Philippines and was raised in the Laguna Province area in the city of San Pablo.

She is a member of many nationally acclaimed organizations such as the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture. When she is not busy doing research, processing samples and field work she enjoys spending time with her family and practicing her guitar.

Brenda came to the United States first and foremost to attain a degree and to gain a good experience to further her chances of receiving a better job. She chose Oklahoma State University by chance. Brenda contacted Dr. Raun via the internet for an assistantship and within days he replied with the offer that has changed her life.

Family is very important to Brenda and she has had the privilege to watch her fourteen year old daughter Elaisa and her twelve year old son Casiano learn and gain a great deal of experience here in the US. Brenda said that nothing would be possible without her husband Edwin’s support.

Her future plans consist of either teaching or doing research, extension or to work on her post doc in the US. Brenda is so thankful that she has had the opportunity to meet people from all different places and would love to continuously learn for the rest of her life.

“Enjoy working and studying but to be successful you have to maintain the passion to learn and be willing to share what you have learned with others,” said Brenda.

Her advisor is Dr. W. Raun

Interviewed by Taryn Fast

Brenda with her husband, Edwin, above.