Holly Payton enjoys collaborating with colleagues and creating a positive work environment.

In her role as office support associate, Payton's efforts help ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) reports are complete and accurate and that funds are used for business purposes. She also ensures that staff is kept abreast of changing policies and has the tools and resources to help families live healthier lifestyles.

Before transitioning to her current role, Holly served two years as a community outreach worker for SNAP-Ed. In this position, she helped low-income families make healthy food choices and delicious meals on a limited budget.

Payton always encouraged parents to use their SNAP benefits to buy more nutritious food. Holly's most rewarding experience was hearing a parent tell her that their family is eating "healthier than we ever have" because of her classes.    

Before joining Extension in 2017, Payton honed her teaching skills volunteering at a YMCA summer program; modeled her teaching style after the instructors in the afterschool, summer, and gymnastics programs she attended growing up. She remembers how their helpful, nurturing, and enthusiastic approach made learning so much fun and wanted the youth in her SNAP-Ed programs to experience the same joy.