Jackie Lyn "Jack" A. Guevara is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University.

When I was a junior student in agriculture, I had no idea what “turf” or “turfgrass” even meant. Now, here I am, working as an assistant professor in turfgrass management at Michigan State University.

Last month, one of my dreams came true: I had the opportunity to share the knowledge I gained at MSU with fellow turfgrass managers in my home country, the Philippines. It was a truly surreal and meaningful experience to teach soil science in turfgrass management in front of a Filipino audience.

Reflecting on this full-circle moment reminds me of my journey from being a student who once did not even know what turf was to becoming an expert in the field of turfgrass management.

Turfgrass management was not something I initially set out to pursue. In fact, it was a serendipitous decision suggested by my college academic advisor when I was choosing courses for my study abroad program at MSU. I trusted her advice and decided to enroll in turfgrass management classes.

At MSU, I met inspiring mentors such as Trey Rogers, Kevin Frank, Jim Crum and instructor Marcus Duck. They made learning enjoyable and helped me understand how turfgrass provides essential ecosystem services, such as reducing soil erosion and runoff, as well as less obvious benefits like aesthetics, recreation, relaxation and safety – qualities we often take for granted. As I discovered how technical turfgrass management can be, blending both science and art, I fell in love with the field.

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After my study abroad, I completed an internship in the Philippines. It was there that I truly recognized both the potential and the challenges of the industry. What not many people realize is that the Philippines has tremendous potential in this field. With the ability to play year-round, stunning coastlines, captivating tourist destinations and incredible hospitality, the country is well-positioned to have more amazing golf courses.

However, one major issue was the lack of researchers to evaluate and approve pesticides and fertilizers specifically for turfgrass use. This is critical because turfgrass differs significantly from agricultural crops and improper use of chemicals can have environmental and economic consequences.

I also observed that many turfgrass managers relied on trial and error due to limited access to scientific knowledge while others depended on information developed abroad. These experiences motivated me to pursue further education in turfgrass management.

After finishing my undergraduate program, I was encouraged by an MSU professor to apply to graduate school, and I was fortunate to be accepted. Despite the challenges of the COVID era, I completed my master’s degree with renewed confidence and a plan to return to the Philippines to share what I had learned.

However, another opportunity arose: the FIFA World Cup research project came to MSU. I could not pass up such a chance, so I volunteered to be part of the project and stayed to pursue my doctorate.

Through this work, I had a crash course in learning sports turfgrass management while contributing to one of the largest turfgrass research initiatives in the world. With this experience, my desire to bring this knowledge back to underserved regions became stronger.

Now, with a Ph.D. and experience from the FIFA World Cup project, I am serving as an assistant professor at MSU. I teach and advise turfgrass students while continuing to contribute to the FIFA World Cup research.

One thing I realized is that over time, my goals have evolved. While I still aspire to share knowledge directly in the Philippines, I have realized that I can have an even broader impact with MSU’s support. I have shared this vision with my supervisors at MSU, who have been incredibly supportive.

Through my role, I aim to build connections between MSU and institutions across Asia to advance turfgrass education and research. Recently, I spoke at the Philippine Golf Course Management Conference, where I connected with turfgrass managers from across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It felt like a full circle moment after nine years.

I am grateful for the support of MSU, particularly the Institute of Agricultural Technology and the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences in making this happen.

When people ask me, “What is your career goal?” or “Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?” my answer is not defined by a single title or metric like number of publications.

Instead, it is guided by a broader purpose: to uplift golf courses and sports fields by sharing knowledge in regions with tremendous potential but with limited access to turfgrass research and education. I believe that this is just a start and I am looking forward to doing more.