Christy Chiarelli is an assistant extension scientist in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC), joining the department in 2019. In this role, she also serves as the director of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 

Originally from Laurel, Mississippi, Chiarelli found her love of agriculture on her grandfather's cattle farm. She grew up showing market lambs and Brahman cattle for projects in her FFA chapter and 4-H club, and was later elected to serve the National FFA Organization as a national FFA officer.

Chiarelli obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Florida, studying agricultural education and communication while focusing in agricultural leadership development. She returned to AEC after working for the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education and UF/IFAS Advancement, respectively.

Chiarelli and her husband, Elio, currently reside on a small farm in Alachua with their two children.