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| Irene Lewis, a senior Agricultural Sciences major with a concentration in Plant and Soil Sciences at the Southern University, has been elected the national undergraduate president of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences organization. (Photo courtesy of MANRRS.) |
Baton Rouge, La. – Southern University
student Irene Lewis, a senior Agricultural Sciences major with a concentration
in Plant and Soil Sciences, has been elected the national undergraduate president
of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences
(MANRRS) organization for the 2019-2020 year.
MANRRS provides leadership training and networking
to positively promote the agricultural sciences and related fields among
minorities.
Irene, who has been a member of Southern
University’s MANRRS Chapter since her freshman year, said she was extremely
excited when she learned that she was elected to the post.
“To be able to give back to MANRRS and
represent my university at a higher level was exciting for me,” said Irene.
“Participating in MANRRS has afforded me
countless opportunities so it only felt right to continue to serve the organization
to the best of my ability,” said Lewis when asked why she decided to run for
the national position.
To qualify, Irene had to submit an
application and an application video before being selected to move forward with
an interview. Irene said she was interviewed by the then-President-Elect, Karl
Binns. After
passing the interview, she was informed that her name would be placed on the
ballot.
As a national officer, Irene represents
the agricultural students enrolled in dozens of universities across the nation.
This is something she doesn’t take lightly.
“MANRRS has an enormous student
membership,” she said. “These students are young people across the country and are
a force, working to develop agriculture, natural resources and related
sciences. It's important that I use this
position to continue to advocate for underrepresented students in agriculture,
especially for students at 1890 Institutions and other HBCUs (Historically
Black Colleges and Universities). They are truly our next generation of academic
and industry leaders,” expressed Lewis.
Irene said her goal as the Undergraduate
National President is to be a supporter of the organization’s fourteen student
officers.
“I don't think people can truly understand
the weight that these positions can hold until they are in one. Balancing your academics, pursuing doctoral degrees (for
some of our team), and serving in a national office requires a high level of
discipline, collaboration, and accountability,” said Irene. “My ultimate goal
is to help my team be the best they can be,” she added.
Prior to being elected to her current
national position, Irene served as the Region IV Undergraduate Vice President
for the 2018-2019 year, representing chapters in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Missouri, and Texas.
At Southern University’s local chapter,
Irene has served as the Chapter’s Secretary during the 2017-2018 academic year
and Historian during the 2018-2019 year.
“This year I am in a student advisory role
as I transition out of the university,” said Lewis.
She credits her national involvement in
MANRRS to her participation in Southern University’s local chapter.
“I don't think I would be able to serve in
the way that I have if it had not been for participating in MANRRS at my
chapter,” said Irene. “I gained countless mentors and a huge support system on
campus. From our advisor, Dr. Janana Snowden, to the friends I met through
MANRRS at SU, I really have had a tribe in these past two years of national
service. Dr. Snowden literally gave me a pep talk minutes before I gave my
campaign speech last year, and I am extremely grateful for that.”
MANRRS is a non-profit organization that
promotes academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in
agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. It has more than 8,000
student and professional members within six regions and 55 collegiate chapters in
38 states and Puerto Rico.
Irene is a native of Baton Rouge by way of Central, La. She is the
daughter of Eric and Maura Lewis and a 2016 graduate of Runnels High School.
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