 |
| On site tour of the water wheels project |
Baton Rouge, La – Twelve SU Ag Center personnel recently participated in USDA/NIFA Project Directors’ Conference in Alabama. The United States Department of
Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) held its 2012
Project Directors’ Conference hosted by the Alabama A & M University, September
16-19 in Huntsville, Alabama.
This mandatory conference targeted
personnel who have won the 1890 Institutions Capacity Building Program grants
from USDA/NIFA in recent years. This year’s conference was really crucial given
the projected severe federal budget reductions for the coming fiscal year. All 1890
Land-Grant institutions (and Tuskegee University) were represented at the conference
which was attended by more than 150 individuals from across the United States. Several
top officers and staff from various offices and units of the USDA/NIFA were on
hand to answer questions from participants and partner institutions including,
Dr. Muquarrab Qureshi, assistant director-Institute of Youth Family &
Community, Dr. Edwin Lewis, National program leader, and Mr. Garland Robertson,
program specialist. Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr., president-Alabama A & M
University accompanied by his provost & vice president for academic
affairs, Dr. Daniel Wims brought welcome greetings to participants.
The following faculty/staff members
representing the SU Ag Center and SUBR attended and made oral and/or poster presentations:
Drs. Kit Chin, professor-sustainable agriculture, Fatemeh Malekian,
professor-Nutrition, Kasundra Cyrus, specialist-family/human development,
Bridget Udoh, communications specialist, Yadong Qi, professor-urban forestry,
Oscar Udoh, Coordinator for Planning & Evaluation, Patricia Meyinsse,
professor-agricultural economics, Doze Butler, professor/interim dean-graduate
school, Bernestine McGhee, professor-human nutrition & dietetics, Glenda
Johnson, associate professor-human nutrition & dietetics, Calvin Walker,
professor-animal science, and Gloria London, director, Center for Rural &
Small Business Development. The conference provided information on USDA/NIFA
policy and procedure changes as well as updates for the coming year. With the uncertain
budget situation for FY 2013, the restructuring of USDA/NIFA and the
appointment of a new director, this year’s conference was particularly
essential for faculty and staff who apply for grants and contracts from USDA/NIFA.
USDA/NIFA officials emphasized the need to abide by the terms and conditions of
the awards especially by using grant funds for the specific purpose intended and
to advance the mission of the United States Department of Agriculture/National
Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Presentations at the conference touched
on issues pertaining to NIFA Priority Areas: Global Food Security; Childhood
Obesity; Climate Change; Sustainable Energy; and Food Safety. They also
discussed extensively the need for annual reports that are outcome-based; these
reports receive a lot of attention from federal authorities such as, the Office
of the President through the office of Management and Budget, Congress, and the
Office of the Inspector General, USDA.
###
Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
No comments:
Post a Comment