With Spring officially underway, The Organic Center is excited to welcome our newest intern, Brian Marks, to the team. He follows our Fall 2025 Organic Education and Curriculum Development Intern, Erin Epel, as part of our second internship cohort hosted with support from the Organic Career Network.  

Last fall, Erin Epel led an ambitious effort to build a library of educational materials focused on organic agriculture. Drawing on her background in sustainability research, food systems, and instructional design, Erin developed a resource designed to support educators, students, and practitioners interested in creating organic agriculture curricula or deepening their understanding of organic food systems. By researching evidence-based design frameworks, Erin developed clear learning objectives and outcomes to guide users. The result is a centralized, one-stop-shop for organic agriculture education organized by topic and resource type.  

We extend our sincere thanks to Erin and wish her the very best as she completes her master’s degree and pursues a career in sustainable food systems. 

We are also excited to welcome Brian Marks this Spring as a Science and Outreach Intern. Brian is a recent graduate of Colorado College, where he earned a degree in Organismal Biology and Ecology. He brings a strong passion for building sustainable and equitable food systems with a focus on community access to nutritious, satisfying food. 

Brian’s experience spans agricultural field research at North Carolina State University, two seasons of urban farming along Colorado’s Front Range, and hands-on work with USDA organic certification. In his role with The Organic Center, Brian will contribute to building a robust, accessible database that compiles and translates the scientific evidence behind organic agriculture, helping to bridge the gap between research and public understanding. In addition, he will support the continued development of clear, evidence-based resources aimed at addressing common misconceptions about organic production and food systems. Through this work, Brian aims to empower individuals to make informed decisions about the food they grow and eat, while contributing to stronger communities and healthier ecosystems. 

Brian will be joined by Sarah Noonan, OTA’s Spring intern, as part of our second cohort. The cohort model, introduced by The Organic Center and OTA last term, provided interns opportunities to connect, and seek guidance from staff, and develop professional skills such as communicating complex ideas clearly and concisely, project management, and confidently presenting work to diverse audiences.  

Sarah Noonan is an environmental scientist and emerging sustainability management professional focused on food systems and supply chains. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science at American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, D.C., and brings experience in client-focused project management, laboratory operations, and conservation initiatives. Sarah will support OTA’s Small Business Access (SBA) Program by assessing organic engagement across Extension programs and helping expand regional support networks for program participants. 

We look forward to seeing how Brian and Sarah will complement each other’s work, continuing to demonstrate the bright future of the organic industry workforce. 

A huge thank you to the Organic Career Network for their partnership and support in creating a collaborative and enriching experience for interns across the organic community. We are grateful for Erin’s lasting impact and look forward to the energy and perspective Brian and Sarah will bring to our team!  

If you’re interested in working with us, please reach out to The Organic Center’s Manager of Science Programs, Dr. Elias Miller at emiller@organic-center.org. To learn more about The Organic Center’s internship programs and to see the work of past fellows and interns, check out our Future of Organic website.