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| Dr. Clarence W. Hawkins, LA Director of USDA Rural Development, center, interacts with Southern University employees |
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| Task Force Meeting in progress |
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| Dr. Gregory Parham, Asst. Secretary for Admin. USDA, talks about the mission and vision of USDA/1890 Partnership |
The group
meets four times a year in diverse locations across the nation to work and
initiate opportunities in research, extension, research, academics and
capacity-building. Membership in the task force consists of 11 USDA officials,
seven 1890 institution presidents and three ex-officio members, with the
executive committee serving as the administrative arm of the task force.
The
meeting was called to order at 8:00 am by Dr. Juliette Bell, Task Force
Co-chair and President of University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, and Mr. Thomas
Tidwell, Co-chair and Chief of US Forest Service. Immediately following was a
report on the 125th Anniversary celebration of the Second Morrill
Act by Dr. Bell. The welcome and orientation was brought by Dr. Joe Leonard,
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, USDA and Dr. Ronald Mason, President of
the Southern University System. Dr. Gregory Parham, Assistant Secretary
for Administration, USDA addressed the team, followed by a report by the
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is co-chaired by Ms. Angela
Coleman, Associate Deputy Chief, US Forest Service; and Dr. Moses Kairo, Dean,
Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
Also in attendance were Dr. Clarence W. Hawkins, Louisiana
State Director, USDA Rural Development; Administrators, faculty and staff from
the Southern University Ag Center and SU Baton Rouge Campus.
Dr. Juliette Bell reported that “the
meeting was very engaging and provided opportunity for USDA and 1890 presidents
to have an in-depth discussion about the future of both entities.” And she was
very pleased about the experience.
The
afternoon agenda included an executive committee report and discussion focusing
on new initiatives for the partnership; Summer Feeding Program presented by Ms.
Audrey Rowe, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA; Tree Campus USA
Proposal, by Ms. Angela Coleman, Associate Deputy Chief, US Forest
Service; and Mr. Dan Lambe, Vice President of Programs, Arbor Day Foundation.
Dr. Bell and Mr. Tidwell gave closing remarks with an outline of next steps.
When
asked what the goal of the meeting was, Mr. Tidwell responded “This meeting
brings leaders together to strengthen leadership in agriculture and reach out
to the potential leaders in order to remain the world leader in agricultural
sustainability.” We need to train, mentor, and prepare students to assume leadership
positions.
USDA/1890
Program’s mission is to attract students into careers in agriculture and
related fields;
share expertise and resources in areas such as agricultural research, extension
and teaching programs, technology development, limited-resource farmers and
minority farmer programs, and rural development programs; and to increase the
involvement of the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University in the
delivery of USDA programs.
In
response to the question of the caliber of students that Southern University selects
to participate in the 1890 National Scholar’s Program, Ms. Phyllis Holmes says
she is “very impressed with your scholars. They are well prepared academically
and professionally, and they are very polite.
I think it is the southern culture.”
Ms. Holmes serves as the Acting Director, 1890 National Scholar’s
Program, Office of Advocacy & Outreach, USDA.
The 2014
Farm Bill gave Central State University, Ohio the land-grant status as the 19th
1890 Institution. This year, for the first time, Central State University is
participating in the Task Force Meeting.
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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
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