Madison Purifoy, a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) and current doctoral student at Kansas State University, is pursuing her dream: a Ph.D. in grain science.
Her academic journey is less about her own determination to achieve personal goals and more representative of her commitment to empowering underserved communities through nutrition education and leadership.
“I recently got accepted into my school of choice, where I am now able to pursue my lifelong dream of a doctoral degree,” Purifoy says. “This gives me the credentials to engage with communities that are underserved and show them that anything is possible… and no dream is too small.”
A Passion for Research and Food Security
Purifoy’s path to Ph.D. candidacy has been paved with hard work, research, and service.
At UAPB, she earned both the Dean’s Academic Scholarship and the prestigious 1890 Scholarship from the School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences. Her research explored antioxidant properties of sweet potatoes, a project that earned second place for her presentation at the 80th Professional Agricultural Workers Conference at Tuskegee University.
Her dedication extended beyond the lab. Purifoy served as vice president of UAPB’s chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), represented the Department of Human Sciences in the Student Government Association Senate, and mentored peers as a Golden Lion mentor.
Through these experiences, Purifoy developed a strong understanding of how research and community outreach intersect to create meaningful change.
“I want to show [people] that agriculture is more than just farming,” she says. “It involves all aspects of food, as well as the process in between farm to table.”
Building Skills to Help Build a Brighter Future
Purifoy’s success is rooted in her willingness to learn and adapt. She credits her achievements to the combination of technical expertise and soft skills she’s cultivated along the way.
“I learned how to network and use my interpersonal skills to show who I truly am,” she says. “I also underwent a hundred-plus hours of laboratory skills. This assisted me in feeling confident in working inside a laboratory and how to use those foundational skills to learn and master new equipment that is pertinent to any experiment.”
She adds that one of her most important lessons was to “take it one day at a time,” a mindset of gradual growth that she now carries into her doctoral studies. Her research internships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture strengthened this resilience.
Working first with the Delta Water Management Research Unit in Jonesboro, Arkansas, she analyzed rice strains and collected greenhouse gas data. Later, she contributed to research at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center in Little Rock, studying carrot anthocyanins and vitamin A enhancement in sorghum.
RELATED: AVOIDING NUTRITIONAL MISINFORMATION
Inspiration Close to Home Drives Her Success
Purifoy credits her mother as her greatest role model, a constant source of inspiration and strength.
“When you ask who is a leader I look up to, it would have to be my mother,” she says. “She has shown and not just taught me how hard work and determination can take you as far as you want. In my case, to a doctoral degree and much more in the future.”
Her mother’s example of perseverance and selflessness has shaped Purifoy’s own leadership philosophy.
“She has demonstrated how sacrificing while also juggling multiple different responsibilities pays off in the long run,” Purifoy says. “She has been the pillar of the values that I stand by today.”
Lessons Learned Through Leadership Development
For Purifoy, joining the NSLS was a turning point in how she approached her goals.
“The NSLS has challenged me to focus and stay goal-oriented, pushing me to pursue a higher education as well as take on more leadership roles,” she says. “This has changed my entire perspective on how to go about life. I wanted to gain more experience in leadership and this gave me that opportunity.”
She continues to apply those lessons as she navigates the challenges of graduate school, emphasizing patience, focus, and consistency.
“If I can spend at least one hour a day focusing on one thing… I can accomplish my goal over time,” she says. “This degree will take some time, but I know as of right now focusing on the fundamentals is what's the best course of action.”
True Leadership Is Leadership in Action
When Purifoy talks about leadership, she emphasizes one central idea: actions matter more than words.
“Leadership means doing much, saying little,” she says. “Your actions as a person in power or in a leadership role hold much more weight than you might realize. People pay close attention to what you are doing rather than what you are saying.”
Her belief that “actions speak louder than words” drives her to live authentically and lead with integrity, whether in the lab, the classroom, or her community.
Madison’s Advice for Future Leaders
Purifoy believes one of the most powerful leadership skills is also one of the simplest: listening.
“Learn to listen more than you speak,” she says. “In my opinion, the greatest and most adored leaders were the ones who learned to listen to the needs or concerns of others. They placed others before themselves, which not only made them a great person but a leader as well.”
As she continues her Ph.D. journey, Purifoy hopes to become a professor and share her passion for science, nutrition, and wellness with the next generation. Her long-term vision includes starting a natural cosmetic company and using her platform to educate communities about health, food systems, and opportunity.
Purifoy’s story is one of persistence, purpose, and paying it forward, a reminder that leadership begins not with what you say, but with what you do.
Learn more about the fight against food insecurity from Adam Lowy, founder of Move for Hunger, an organization dedicated to finding a solution to food waste.
