Graves Selected to Lead Huntington Ag
Published: Friday, April 10, 2026
Huntington University has hired Jessica Graves to fill the roles of director of the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies and assistant professor of agriculture. She will begin her duties on June 1. The selection of Graves concludes a national search due to the impending retirement of current director Raymie Porter. Graves will provide oversight for an expanding agriculture program currently celebrating its 10th anniversary.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal and dairy sciences, a Master of Science degree in agriculture (animal nutrition) and a PhD in agricultural and extension education, all from Mississippi State University. She served as an academic advisor and instructor at Mississippi State for over 14 years before taking the director of international capacity development position for the M4 Institute in 2023.
Graves specifically serves as an agricultural specialist for M4, which is an international development organization. In 2024, Graves joined Huntington University on a part-time basis as an adjunct professor. In that role, she led the development of the international agriculture track for Huntington's MBA program and coordinated international mission trips for Huntington's agriculture program.
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