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FAO and CIMMYT promote nutritious and climate-resilient crops

Group ribbon-cutting photo.
From left to right: Bram Govaerts (CIMMYT), Beth Crawford (FAO), Cary Fowler (World Food Prize 2024), Ismahane Elouafi (CGIAR), and Catherine Bertini (World Food Prize 2023). (Photo: Jenifer Morales / CIMMYT.)

by CIMMYT-SAS Communications

Within the framework of the DialogueNEXT forum, recently organized by the World Food Prize Foundation in collaboration with CIMMYT, a new and promising initiative was announced: Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS). This strategic alliance between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and CIMMYT seeks to strengthen resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, focusing on diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops cultivated in healthy soils.

FAO and CIMMYT formalized this collaboration by signing an agreement, with the goal of leading and coordinating VACS efforts among a wide range of public and private stakeholders. The agreement prioritizes promoting traditional, nutrient-rich, and climate-resilient crops, which are fundamental for food security and nutrition in the context of climate change. 

“By joining forces with CGIAR and CIMMYT, we combine our collective capabilities to generate strong momentum and a platform to advance VACS,” affirmed QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO. Bram Govaerts, Director-General of CIMMYT, added: “We are proud to be united with FAO through VACS. FAO’s excellent track record in policy work and network-building with national governments will help equip farmers with resilient seeds and climate-smart cropping systems that regenerate, rather than degrade, soils.” 

CIMMYT has successfully implemented innovative models like the InnovaHubs in Honduras and Guatemala, based on the experience of the MasAgro-Cultivos for Mexico program, which positively impacted more than 300,000 farmers and over one million hectares of Mexican territory. This innovation management methodology connects farmers with markets, technologies, and high-quality seeds and is now being replicated in other countries across Asia and Africa, thereby expanding its positive impact globally. 

Launched in 2023, the VACS movement aims to build sustainable and resilient agrifood systems by leveraging suitable crops and fostering healthy soils. Agricultural innovation hubs play a key role in this process, as they enable initiatives like VACS to enhance the resilience of farming communities through innovation networks that not only improve productivity but also contribute to climate resilience and environmental sustainability. 

The collaboration between FAO and CIMMYT in the VACS initiative aims not only to improve food security and nutrition through resilient crops and healthy soils but also to strengthen global agrifood systems in the face of climate change. This strategic alliance reinforces the commitment of both organizations to a sustainable future, promoting agricultural practices that regenerate soils and enhance the quality of life for farming communities. 

Amy Scanes-Wolfe

Amy Scanes-Wolfe first became interested in food systems after studying cultural anthropology at Middlebury College in Vermont. After 5 years of market farming on the East Coast, Amy became deeply interested in permaculture–farming in a way more closely modelled after natural ecosystems. From that point onward, Amy joined the board of a forming ecovillage, gave tours at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, worked at Harlequins Garden Sustainable Nursery and with Boulder County Parks and Open Space, and ran her own ecological landscaping business. Currently, Amy is the Director of Community Outreach with Drylands Agroecology Research, manages a 1.5 acre homestead in Niwot, and is the lead organizer and teacher with Boulder Permaculture.

German Ramos-Cartagena

Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision, Master’s in Environmental Planning, and Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Puerto Rico. Since 1993, he has been involved in research and community projects focused on sustainable development, community organization, and the development of community gardens. He has authored various publications on these topics, including a chapter in the recent book titled “Environment and Democracy” published by the University of Puerto Rico Editorial, as well as the Curricular Guide for Sustainable Community Garden Development. Additionally, he collaborates with federal agencies such as the Natural Resources and Conservation Service and the Food and Nutrition Service of the Federal Department of Agriculture on the development of the “Community Garden” proposal across the entire island.

Juan Bernardo Orozco Sánchez

Bachelor’s Degree in Commercial Relations, specialized in Agricultural Trade.

Graduated from the Superior School of Commerce and Administration at Tepepan, in Mexico City, of the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico.

Thesis: “PITEX, The Program of Temporary Imports of Materials for Local Processing and Exporting” 1997.

Entered the Mexican Government in 2000 and since then has occupied diverse positions of responsibility in the areas of International Cooperation in the Agricultural Sector:

– Executive Liaison of the General Direction of International Affairs at the Secretariat of Agriculture of Mexico with Agricultural Offices from Embassies Accredited in Mexico

– Head of the Department of International Economic Foment at the General Direction of International Affairs of the Secretariat of Agriculture of Mexico.

– Chief of Staff of the General Coordinator of International Affairs at the Secretariat of Agriculture of Mexico.

– Main achievements:

– Member of diverse Delegations of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Mexican Government, attending International Negotiations related to International Cooperation for Development, Climate Change in Agriculture, Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Extension of Agricultural Innovations, Research and Development, Biotechnology, and Public Policy for Food Security.

– Head of the team in charge of the Halal Certification Program for packing houses, slaughterhouses and food processing plants at the Secretariat of Agriculture in Mexico. The Program has certified nearly 100 food processing plants under Halal International Standards to export food products to Muslim Majority Countries.

Luke Gran

Luke is the owner of Prudenterra and is a Certified Forester with the Society of American Foresters (SAF). He created Prudenterra after graduating from Iowa State University (B.S. Forestry, 2008). While working Prudenterra part-time, Luke also worked at Practical Farmers of Iowa and grew vegetables with TableTop Farm. In 2014, he went full-time with Prudenterra.

Menilek Beyene

I am an environmental biology Ph.D. candidate researching plant ecology and forest restoration. During my time as a researcher, I have been thinking about ways to improve access to food, the availability of resources, and the sustainable management of natural spaces. One of my areas of interest focuses on connecting the movements of environmental conservation, agricultural reform, and food sovereignty by communicating their shared issues through multimedia. With the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council, I bring my perspectives to bear in addressing these challenges in the Canadian food system. In my spare time, I volunteer on small-scale farms, tend to my garden and fruit trees, and enjoy Toronto’s diverse array of cuisines.

Cathie Woteki

Dr. Catherine E. Woteki is a visiting Distinguished Institute Professor with the Biocomplexity Institute at the University of Virginia. Dr. Woteki is a well-respected scholar and a leader in science policy. She is known nationally and internationally for her wealth of knowledge of agriculture, food, nutrition and health from her years of leadership in government, industry and academia. She also is currently a Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University where she served as Dean of the College of Agriculture from 2002 to 2005.

Dr. Woteki was Undersecretary for United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, as well as the department’s chief scientist from 2010 to 2016. Her responsibilities included oversight of the four agencies that comprise REE, the Agricultural Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Economic Research Service, and National Agricultural Statistics Service, as well as the National Agriculture Library and National Arboretum.

She has held other prestigious positions, including Deputy Associate Director for Science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) from 1994 to 1996. At OSTP, she co-authored the Clinton Administration’s policy statement, Science in the National Interest. She also served as the first Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety during the Clinton Administration, 1997-2001.

Dr. Woteki was director of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences from 1990 to 1993. During her tenure as director of the Food and Nutrition Board, she had direct responsibility for 27 studies and co-edited a nutrition book entitled Eat for Life, which became a Book-of-the-Month-Club selection. She has also held positions in the National Center for Health Statistics from 1983 to 1990 and the Human Nutrition Information Service at USDA from 1981 to 1983.

Dr. Woteki is the recipient of many awards for her contributions to science and society, and was inducted into the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Hall of Fame in 2017.

Melissa Weatherwax

Melissa Little Plume Weatherwax Amskapii Piikanii is currently the Blackfeet Community College (BFCC) Institutional Development Director, She and her husband Marvin have raised their family in the Two Medicine Little Badger area on the Blackfeet Reservation. She has an AS in Blackfeet Elementary Education, B.S. in Elementary Education.  Melissa has served at BFCC for 20 years working in areas of education reform, Native Science programming, and campus  facility development, renewable energy implementation and training. Currently Melissa serves with USDA Extension, Native Science Field Centers, Title III, Workforce Development. Melissa and the team are working on a food sovereignty demonstration at Blackfeet Community College managing and programming 693 acres of farmland for student to engage in Piikanii knowledge based experiential learning and research.

Jelle Van Loon

Jelle Van Loon is an agricultural engineer with a PhD in biosystems modelling and has over a decade of experience in agricultural research for development in Latin America. He currently serves as Associate Director for Latin America of CIMMYT’s Sustainable Agrifood System Program, leading research initiatives aimed at building pathways towards resilient food systems and long-term rural development.

Jelle has ample expertise in scale-appropriate mechanization from smallholder farm solutions to precision agriculture applications, has actively progressed to work in innovation systems thinking. In addition, he represents CIMMYT in the Americas, focusing on establishing impactful partnerships and innovative business models. Further, as an international expert for FAO with activities in both Africa and the Asian Pacific, and part of a think tank on disruptive innovation for social entrepreneurship in the primary health sector in Belgium, Jelle is an example of a young leader who contributes to communities around to globe building a more inclusive, sustainability and equitable world.

Dionne Toombs

Dr. Dionne Toombs is the NIFA Associate Director for Programs at National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) extramural grant funding agency for agricultural research, education, and Extension programs. In the role she provides national leadership and direction for NIFA’s science and federal assistance programs. Dr. Toombs works with university partners and other cooperators and customers to advance the mission of research, education, and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences. 

Dr. Toombs returned to NIFA in 2022 to serve as the Acting Director and provided policy direction and leadership to advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-grant University System and other partner organizations. Previously, she was Director of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS), where she provided leadership on a wide range of issues affecting science programs and science policy in agricultural research, education, and economics. She directed and coordinated activities of OCS to strengthen science and science leadership, improve national coordination, and enhance outreach and awareness.

Dr. Toombs provided scientific leadership and coordination to the White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science and Technology Council working groups, across USDA and other federal agencies, and the agricultural community. As director, she managed the information OCS provides the Secretary of Agriculture and USDA science agencies, ensuring the scientific research and advice are held to the highest standards of intellectual rigor and scientific integrity. She spearheaded collaboration with USDA advisory boards and builds partnerships with the scientific community.

With over two decades of USDA service, Dr. Toombs has significantly contributed to USDA’s agricultural research, education, and Extension services while serving in various leadership roles, including heading the Division of Nutrition at NIFA. In this role, she led USDA nutrition science leaders who helped steer science policy and program development to ensure America’s food supply is safe, nutritious, and accessible to all citizens. Dr. Toombs has been repeatedly featured as one of USDA’s most impactful woman scientists and recognized by the Secretary of Agriculture for outstanding leadership.

Additionally, Dr. Toombs served as the National Program Leader (NPL) for NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), leading large competitive grant programs to fund research into nutrition, food science and technology, and food safety. These research investments include helping rural, low-income, minority, and at-risk populations make more informed food choices and become more physically active. Prior to serving as NPL, Dr. Toombs was a Program Specialist for Food Science and Nutrition at the former USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, now NIFA. She started at USDA as a student intern at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

Throughout her career, Dr. Toombs has helped her colleagues, staff, and students maximize their potential by bolstering their talents and developing their leadership skills. Always willing to champion the next generation of scientists, she often emphasizes the importance of relationship building, citing collaboration as a key to her success.

Dr. Toombs earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Howard University, her Master of Science degree in Food Science from Alabama A&M University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bethune-Cookman University.

She enjoys spending time with family, Pilates, participating in community service projects, and learning how to play golf.

Davida Tengey

Davida Vanderpuye Tengey currently serves as the International Engagement Officer for NIFA. She began her federal service career at NIFA in 2009, where she has held several positions across the agency, including Program Assistant in Competitive Programs, Grants Management Specialist, Program Specialist in Animals Systems Division, National Science Liaison Program Specialist, International and Program and Visitors Coordinator and Policy Advisor. Prior to joining NIFA, she garnered more than 10 years of experience in international development from the nonprofit sector as a Sr. Program Officer for NCNW International Development Center. In this capacity, she administrated multifaceted programs funded by USAID, U.S. State Department and the World Bank in Asia and Africa.

She received her B.S. degree from University of Maryland University College in Global Business and Public Policy and a minor in Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management. She has been a member of the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) since 2012.

Scott Stump

Scott Stump is honored to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the National FFA Organization and Foundation. He is excited to lead FFA’s efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. 

Prior to this role, Stump served as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education within the United States Department of Education. Prior to assuming this role, Scott served as Chief Operating Officer with Vivayic, Inc. a learning solutions provider devoted to helping individuals, organizations and corporations succeed.  

Before joining Vivayic, Scott served as the Assistant Provost/State Director for Career & Technical Education (CTE) with the Colorado Community College System. Over his tenure with the system Stump served as State FFA Advisor, Agriculture Program Director and interim President of Northeastern Junior College during the institution’s presidential search process. During his seven-year tenure as a State CTE Director, Scott has served as an officer for Advance CTE. Through this role, he served on the National SkillsUSA Board of Directors as the Advance CTE liaison.

Stump received his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from Purdue University and a Masters of Business Administration from Western Governors University. He began his career teaching agricultural education and biology at Manchester High School in North Central Indiana. Before coming to Colorado, he worked for the National FFA Organization managing the National Officer team and the National FFA Convention. 

Doug Steele

Dr. Douglas Steele was appointed to his current position on January 2, 2019. Through collaborative partnerships with member institutions the office of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources) focuses on broad cross-cutting issues related to agriculture, food and fiber, forestry, human sciences, natural resources (ecology, fish and wildlife, forestry, mineral resources and water resources), oceans and atmosphere, and veterinary medicine. APLU, through the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA), advocates yearly on behalf of agricultural research, extension, and education funding. The BAA is also heavily involved in advocating for beneficial language regarding university priorities in each Farm Bill. The BAA also maintains vigilance over federal agency implementation of relevant legislation and responds to legislative and administrative issues as they arise.

Prior positions and appointments include: Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 2012-2018 and Vice President for External Relations and Director of Extension for Montana State University from 2004 to 2012. Steele previously held Extension and faculty positions at Colorado State University, where he was assistant director and State 4‐H Program leader, and at Purdue University, where he served as an Extension specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. From 1981 to 1992, he held various Extension positions within The Texas A&M University System, including Extension agent, county director, and Extension specialist.

Dr. Steele has been active on the national level having served as chair of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee and national BAA Policy Board of Directors. He has previously served as Chair of the National 4-H Congress Board of Directors, Trustee for National 4-H Council, officer of the eXtension Foundation Executive Committee and Co-chair of the ECOP Marketing and Communications Task Force. He has presented at several national and regional conferences on such topics as leadership, innovation and the role of a 21st century land-grant university. Throughout his career he has received over 10 million dollars in funding to support curriculum development, rural development work and engagement activities.

Some awards of distinction Dr. Steele has received include the Visionary Leadership Award, Montana State University Extension; the F. A. Anderson Distinguished Service Award, Colorado State University; Texans Caring for Texans honoree, National Friend of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Superior Service Award for Excellence, United States Department of Agriculture. Doug believes in the power of the Land-Grant University to provide access and affordability to higher education, increase the profitability of agricultural enterprises and transform families, youth and communities.

Dr. Steele has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science/Agri Business from Panhandle State University, Goodwell, OK, a Master of Agriculture degree in agronomy from West Texas State University, Canyon, TX and a doctor of philosophy degree in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Doug and his wife, Lori, reside in Bowie, MD have four grown children and one grandchild.

Ashley Stokes

Ashley M. Stokes is the Dean of Extension at the University of Tennessee within the Institute of Agriculture. UT Extension serves communities across all 95 counties of Tennessee. UT Extension’s mission is to help Tennesseans improve their quality of life and solve problems through the application of research and evidence based knowledge about agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and community development.

Ashley received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and her DVM and PhD from Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, where she also served on the faculty in Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Starting in 2009, she spent six years at the University of Hawai’i, where she was the sole veterinary extension specialist serving Hawai’i as well as several countries throughout the Western Pacific. She also conducted veterinary research while at UH and taught Pre-Veterinary and Animal Science courses. Ashley served as the Assistant Dean of the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine before transitioning to her role as Assistant and then Associate Vice President of Engagement and Extension for CSU. She also served as the interim Senior Director of CSU Online for one year as part of her AVP role. She earned her MBA from CSU in 2018 with a focus in marketing and communication. As Dean of UT Extension, she represents almost 1,000 Extension professionals across Tennessee.

She has been recognized with the Top 40 Under 40 award in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Excellence in Teaching award for her college at UH, Ka Pouhana Student Mentorship award, Hōkū Leadership award, Hawaii Cattleman/Cattlewoman of the Year, and the Public Service Award for the International Animal Transportation Association award for her collaborative research on livestock transportation. Ashley was inducted into the Academy of Veterinary Consultants in 2014.

Alpha Sennon

Alpha founded WHYFARM,a globally recognized and award-winning nonprofit organization that pioneers Agricultural Educational Entertainment. Alpha is globally known as a farmer-preneur, motivational speaker and agri-youth advocate who is also a graduate of the University of the West Indies

Alpha developed AGRIMAN and Photosynthesista, the world’s 1st Food and Nutrition Security Superheroes.

Alpha is also an alumnus of the 2016 Young Leaders of Americas Initiative. Alpha was awarded the 2018-Andrew-e-Rice-Award for his work in Leadership and Innovation. Most recently, Alpha was presented with the winning title of ‘Social Entrepreneur’ of the year by CEMEX-TEC Mexico. He was also named the 40 under 40 influencer of the year by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Marie-Pier Sabourin

Marie-Pier Sabourin has been a Trade Policy Analyst for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) since September 2021, with a focus on the United States’ market. Marie-Pier leads the Department’s work in U.S. advocacy and promoting the mutually beneficial and highly integrated Canada-U.S. bilateral agricultural trade relationship. Marie-Pier is also the lead on the biofuel and bioeconomy files in her team. Previously, she was a Policy Analyst at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for over 2 years. In this role, she worked on the modernization strategies and review of the Agency’s service fees.

She holds an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences with major in Public Administration and minor in Global Studies.

Emily Robb

Emily Robb is a Métis citizen who was born and raised in rural, Southwestern Manitoba, Canada. As a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agroecology at the University of Manitoba, Emily is passionate about the ethical and equitable distribution of knowledge alongside holistic and integrated ways of interacting with environmental, economic, social, and agri-food systems to promote food sovereignty and the capacity for self-determination.

Passionate about community engagement, Emily is currently a volunteer notetaker for students with accessibility needs, a teaching assistant for introductory agricultural courses offered at the University, an elementary school presenter for agricultural literacy initiatives with Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba, the Vice-Stick External for the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Students’ Organization, and a member of the Government of Manitoba’s Youth Advisory Council for environmental and climate action.

Outside of her academic career, Emily is a seasonal Crop Pathology Research Assistant for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) during the Manitoban growing season. Having held this position for six years, she works with AAFC researchers and Manitoban producers to identify, remedy, and prevent disease in crops to improve the long-term viability of agricultural systems. 

Having been a 4-H’er for nine years, Emily is currently the Vice-Chair and Manitoban Representative of the 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). The 4-H Canada YAC is composed of ten 4-H members and alumni, one from each province, to represent 4-H Canada at internal and external events and conferences, while driving policy development and decision-making in the best interest of 4-H youth across the country. Emily is also a Youth Director on the Manitoba 4-H Council Board of Directors to facilitate 4-H programming and policy development on a more local scale. Still actively involved as a 4-H member, Emily is a member of the Westman 4-H Poultry Club and is the President of the University of Manitoba Future Leaders 4-H Club — one of the only adult-member and university-based clubs in Canada.

Adrian Quijada

Adrian Quijada is currently director of the Land Grant Office of Sustainability at the Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC). He is responsible of agriculture and natural resources programs founded by the USDA-NIFA and other agencies. Adrian teaches science, natural resources, biotechnology, and relevant environmental issues in the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Adrian’s educational background includes a B.S. in Ecology (Sonora State University, Mexico), a master’s degree in Basic Ecology (National Autonomous University of Mexico) and a Ph.D. in Biology (University of Wales, United Kingdom). Previously, he was a faculty member and a research scientist at the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, teaching conservation genetics and former editor of CLIMAS’ newsletter Transborder Climate.

Adrian is founder member of the Tribal Colleges Consortium on Genomics Training (TCCGT), which includes a network of tribal colleges and universities in collaboration with agencies and institutions to enhance genomics education at tribal high school and college level.

His research is focused on the effects of border environmental changes on Indigenous natural resources and traditional agriculture, and how this affects Indigenous sovereignty and justice.

Rebecca Popara

Rebecca Popara is the Program Associate of International Agriculture with CSU Spur, part of the CSU System. She supports International Agriculture programs through partnership development, communications, and budgetary and project management.

Rebecca received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, Spanish, and International Studies with a Concentration in International Relations from Gonzaga University. She is pursuing a Master’s in Media and Communication Management from CSU Online. Rebecca came to CSUS from the Colorado Governor’s Office and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, where she worked on special projects and initiatives as an Executive Assistant and Speechwriting Intern.

Jeff Pieper

Jeff has over 10 years of experience working with growers as an Extension Specialist and Research Associate at Colorado State University. He has partnered with young farmers to create grower networks and deliver educational programming such as the Colorado Building Farmers. He has been awarded partner of the year from the Mount Sporis conservation district and participated in the Colorado Agriculture Leadership Program. He has also volunteered for the USAID Farmer to Farmer program working with Moldovan growers on stone fruit production. He is also currently enrolled as a PhD candidate at Colorado State University and will be defending his thesis on peach rootstocks this fall.

Amy Parsons

Amy Parsons is the 16th President of Colorado State University. Prior to being named the President of Colorado State University, Amy Parsons served in various senior executive leadership roles at CSU and the CSU System and combines her higher education experience with a private sector background. Prior to her most recent role as CEO of Mozzafiato, LLC, Parsons was executive vice chancellor of the CSU System from 2015-2020; vice president for university operations at CSU from 2009-2015; deputy general counsel and associate legal counsel at CSU Fort Collins from 2004-2009. As vice president of operations at CSU, she helped navigate through the fiscal challenges of the Great Recession, supported the first comprehensive salary equity survey to uncover and remedy gender-based inequities, and oversaw an historic physical transformation that included construction and renovation of state-of-the-art classroom buildings, parking structures, research facilities, and an on-campus stadium. She worked as a litigation attorney for Denver-firm Brownstein, Hyatt, & Farber (now Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck) from 1999-2004.

Parsons holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from CSU and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado.

Winnie Onyango

Winnie Onyango is an Associate Country Director and Field Research Extension Officer at PlantVillage, currently working on climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers. With a background in Agricultural Extension and Education, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Entomology at Penn State University.

Passionate about empowering youths and women in agriculture, she leads Dream Team Agroconsultancy Limited. Winnie has been actively involved in integrating AI and human intelligence to diagnose crop diseases, scaling Integrated Pest Management, and training farmers and youths across various African countries. As a keynote speaker at international events, she advocates for the representation of marginalized farmers and youths in the agricultural sector.

Michael Olufemi

Michael is an Agricultural Economist under training at the University of Alberta. His current research area of learning is in Choice modeling/consumer behavior and land use change analysis. He is currently the Canada representative for Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD). He has led initiatives and ideas to connect relevant government agencies to YPARD, such as the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council, a consultative body to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Michael has good project management skills.

Michael is also passionate about sustainable development, especially for the food systems, leading him to undertake his thesis on Canadian consumer preference for beef raised under different antimicrobial practices.

He is well-traveled with rich international work and volunteering experience with the World Food Programme-United Nations Food Systems Summit Secretariat in 2021 as a Digital Communications Intern, the London Rotary Passport Club in 2020 as a volunteer Digital Communications Assistant, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria in 2016 as an Agribusiness Intern.

Lastly, Michael is a social entrepreneur, having founded his NGO, The Scholars Network (TSN), in 2018 with people of like mind. TSN activities focus on supporting the Education for All goal of the 17 SDGs.

Alhaji N’Jai

Dr. N’jai is a technical leader, thought leader, and scholar with broad research interests at the intersection of biomedical science (infectious disease, toxicology, immunology, genomics, systems biology), environmental science, One health, anthropology, and indigenous African Knowledge Base systems. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Departments of Microbiology, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) and Biological Sciences, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is also the Director of University of Wisconsin-Madison Global Health Institute One Health Center West Africa and an Associate Professor of Medicine at California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM). Since December 2014, he has led Ebola control and infectious disease emerging in Africa (IDEA) initiative in Sierra Leone and Africa that has resulted in establishment of international collaborative projects on Ebola and infectious diseases between University of Sierra Leone, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute of Medical Sciences at University of Tokyo, and Joint Medical Unit of 34 Military hospital. This has resulted in training, supervision, and mentoring of post-docs, PhDs, several master’s students, and undergraduates in research. Dr. N’jai is a member of the college of experts for the Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF), where he chairs selection of fellows and participates in mentoring of PhD and Post-doctoral research scientists across Africa. He is the founder and chief strategist for Project 1808, Inc, a US 501(c3) nonprofit and Sierra Leone community-based organization, whose mission is to transform communities through education that is linked to service, innovation, cultural empowerment, technical and leadership skills development at the Schools, Community, and University. Project 1808, Inc annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Agriculture, Arts, and Mathematics (STEEEAAM) and Leadership festival is now a national event in Sierra Leone. Project 1808, Inc is now set to launch Koinadugu College in October 2023, a model One Health Campus and first higher institution of education in the district that is expected to transform lives and create thriving sustainable communities. From 2011-2016, he was Senior Scientist and Toxicologist, Global Research and Development at Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Dr. N’jai is currently a senior technical advisor for the Directorate of Health Securities and Emergencies (DHSE) at Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) and National consultant for the formation of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA). He also serves as the chairman of the One Health Technical Working Group in Sierra Leone. He was honored with a distinguished service award by the DHSE MOHS in February 2022 for impacts on various projects. He is the current managing editor of the Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical Research and former host of the popular Panafrica Radio Show on the award-winning WORT 89.9 FM community radio in Madison, Wisconsin. He was recognized among the list of the 1000 most influential Black Scientists in America by Cell Mentor in 2019 and his work from America to Sierra Leone has been featured in Forbes Magazine.

Manjit Misra

Dr. Manjit Misra is the director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

Dr. Misra is a world-renowned scientist who has had a transformational impact on food security. Prior to joining NIFA, he was the director of the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University, a position he held from 1991 to 2023. He also was the Endowed Chair of Seed Science, Technology and Systems. 

He holds degrees in agricultural engineering from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology in India, and from the University of Missouri. 

He joined the faculty of Iowa State University in 1979 as an assistant professor in seed science and technology. In 2005, he was named director of Iowa State’s Institute for Food Safety and Security and was the founding director of the Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products. 

Dr. Misra was sworn in to a six-year appointment as director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture on May 8, 2023. NIFA invests in research, education and Extension at universities, research organizations and other partner organizations to develop innovative solutions for food and agriculture challenges facing the nation and the world.

Melanie Miller-Foster

Melanie Miller Foster is the co-founder of the Global Teach Ag Network with the mission of empowering educators to address the world’s most pressing issues. Her focus is on identifying ways for all disciplines to play a role in finding new and innovative solutions to food security, and for helping students, educators, and programs tell their story of global impact. At the heart of Dr. Miller Foster’s research program are themes of global learning, agriculture and food security.  She is currently a faculty member in the College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University where she is responsible for leadership of the dual-title graduate degree program in International Agriculture and Development.  

Trent McKnight

Trent McKnight is a lifelong cattle rancher and businessman in Throckmorton, Texas, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics and Comparative Politics from Oklahoma State University and The London School of Economics. He is a past national president of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), founder of the Texas Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values, and a former appointee of Governor Rick Perry to the Brazos River Authority. In 2012, he was narrowly defeated in a runoff election for the Texas Legislature.  

Trent has served as an agriculture advisor to the U.S. Military in Iraq, agricultural economist to the United Nations in West Africa, agriculture researcher for the Borlaug Institute of International Agriculture and chairman of the USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Agriculture, rural communities and international development are his passions.  

In 2013, he founded AgriCorps, a non-profit organization that strengthens capacity and creates an enabling environment for school-based agricultural education in sub-Saharan Africa. Through AgriCorps, Trent wrote the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program under the Trade Title of the 2018 US Farm Bill and launched The Movement for School-Based Agricultural Education in 2020. Trent is an operating partner in VestedWorld, an Africa-focused venture capital firm investing in agribusiness, and in 2022, he joined the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees where he serves as chair of the Investment Committee. He shares his time between New York and Texas.

Fernando Manzo-Ramos

Dr. Manzo-Ramos has a doctoral degree in Adult Education and Extension Science from North Carolina State University, USA. 

He is a Full Professor in the Rural Development Studies Program at Colegio de Postgraduados, an agricultural university in Mexico, where he teaches Program Development. 

With more than 25 years of experience in extension education in rural development in Mexico, USA, Central America and South America, Dr. Manzo-Ramos leads an investigation on Implications of Local Rural Agency for Program Development in Extension.

He is a member of the American Network for Rural Extension Services (RELASER), North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN), and other international networks related to Localized Agri-foods and Territorial Development.

Adriana Luna

Adriana Luna Díaz is an outstanding Mexican scientist and entrepreneur who has managed to combine her passion for research with her commitment to the environment and the community. She graduated in Biology from the University of the Americas Puebla and specialized in protein engineering at the Institute of Biotechnology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She also pursued studies in ecological restoration at the University of Victoria in Canada and earned a master’s degree in socio-environmental business administration from the University of the Environment.

With extensive experience in research, teaching, and project management, Adriana has worked in government, academia, and the private sector, focusing on projects related to community development and environmental regeneration.

In 2015, she founded Tierra de Monte, an agricultural innovation platform that applies knowledge to accelerate the transition to large-scale regenerative agriculture. As CEO, she has led her team in developing solutions that improve the quality of life for communities and protect the environment. Adriana’s dedication and work have earned her several awards and recognitions, including the 1st Place Banamex Award for the Company with the Greatest Social Impact, the Cemex-Tec Social Entrepreneurs Award, the Latin American Laureate 2020 Award from Cartier Women’s Initiative, the GQ Men of the Year 2020 Award in the Sustainability and Ecology category, and in 2021, she was listed among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in Mexico. Tierra de Monte, the company she co-founded, has been recognized as one of the 30 promises by the same organization.

In addition to her professional career, Adriana is a mother and a committed feminist who cares about the well-being and happiness of all people. Through her work in regenerative agriculture, she has demonstrated that it is possible to reconcile environmental protection and community development and that business success can go hand in hand with sustainability and social justice.

Jane Lowicki-Zucca

Jane Lowicki-Zucca serves as Senior Youth Advisor within USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, where she works to strengthen the Agency’s efforts to engage youth in agriculture-led growth, nutrition, resilience and water security, sanitation and hygiene activities. She co-led U.S. negotiations of the first-ever Committee on World Food Security Policy Recommendations Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems, and is a proponent of more and better jobs for youth that lead to greener outcomes. She previously served as Program Director with GOAL Uganda, leading the Driving Youth-led New Agribusiness and Microenterprise in Northern Uganda (DYNAMIC) program, a flagship youth-focused market systems development program of the Mastercard Foundation. Jane has held various leadership positions with NGOs and the United Nations across three decades of humanitarian and development service, with an emphasis on youth development. As Director of the Women’s Refugee Commission, IRC’s Children and Adolescents Project, Jane pioneered participatory approaches to working with conflict-affected young people in Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Uganda. Jane has authored numerous studies and reports, including the seminal Untapped Potential, Adolescents Affected by Armed Conflict. She earned her BA in Government, with concentrations in International Relations and Women’s Studies from Cornell University. She holds an MPA in Public and Non-profit Management and Policy, with a specialization in International Public Policy from New York University. Jane has served as Adjunct Faculty at New York University (NYU) Center for Global Affairs. She is an NYU Catherine B. Reynolds Social Entrepreneurship Fellow and was an elected labor leader as a youth.

Brian Kowalkowski

Brian Kowalkowski started at the College of Menominee Nation in 2007 as Assistant Director of Education Outreach Extension. Prior to that, he worked for the Menominee Tribal Government for nine years, first as a land use planner and then as a community resource planner.

His current position as Dean of Continuing Education requires him to manage and administer all grants and contracts of the department and act as the Extension Director. He analyzes community data to determine appropriate activities to be undertaken by the department. He also works with different community agencies to establish cooperative working relationships.  A major accomplishment has been the creation of a local farmers market on the Menominee Reservation that has coincided with the improvement of access to fresh foods. He is involved with numerous local, state, and federal professional organizations, representing his college and 1994 Tribal Land Grant schools.

Eugene Kelly

Gene Kelly is a Professor of Pedology, Deputy Director of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and is Associate Director for Research in the School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University (CSU). He was recently on assignment at National Ecological Observation Network (NEON) as visiting head scientist. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Colorado State University and his Ph.D. from the University of California-Berkeley. Dr. Kelly conducts research and lectures nationally and internationally on various aspects of soils as related to global change issues. His scientific specialization is in Pedology and Geochemistry with primary interests in the biological weathering of soil and studies of soil degradation and global biogeochemical cycles. His current research is centered on Global Soil Degradation and fundamental role of grasslands in global biogeochemical cycles. He serves as an advisor to the United States Department of Agriculture with the National Cooperative Soil Survey, The National Science Foundation and several major research programs. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and is the recipient of the 2016 Soil Science Society of America Research Award. A native of New York, a marathoner and triathelete, he lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Research Interests:

I drifted into Pedology as an activity that involves more of the things that interest me; Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geology, and Ecology. This discipline of Pedology simultaneously challenges one intellectually, physically and brings one to the field in some of the most beautiful and interesting places imaginable.

I am interested in the underlying stability of soil systems. This stability is controlled by the inherent balance between inputs and losses of nutrients and carbon. We now understand that human exploitation of these soil resources, beginning a few thousand years ago, allowed agriculture to become an enormous success. The vastness of the planet and its soil resources allowed agriculture to expand, with growing populations, or to move, when soil resources were depleted. My research program is directed toward studying the origin and evolution of soils and quantifying the biologically mediated processes of soil formation in many environments around the world. However, the practice of farming greatly accelerated rates of erosion relative to soil production, and soil has been and continues to be lost at rates that are orders of magnitude greater than mechanisms that replenish soil. The net results of human impacts on soil resources this century will be global in scale and will have direct impacts on human security for centuries to come.

My current research is targeted towards evaluating the vulnerability and stability of soils to changing climatic and land use conditions in the context of global and climate change research.

Extension and Outreach:

As the liaison between the university and cooperators in federal, state, local and private sectors, I work at strengthening our capacity for accessing and disseminating soils information. Much of the information about soils that people utilize comes directly out of Soil Surveys published through the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS). I serve on several regional and national advisory committees for the NCSS.

Samantha Joseph

Samantha H. Joseph serves as the Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the United States Department of Agriculture. Samantha spent the first 10 years of her career leading community, diversity and environmental programs for Fortune 500 companies, including at Iron Mountain where she was the company’s first head of corporate social responsibility. Most recently, she led the outreach and engagement efforts for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Vaccine Equity Initiative. A dedicated community leader, Samantha is chair of the board of directors of Samaritans, the largest suicide prevention agency in MA and a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. She is a graduate of the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Tahirah Jones

Tahirah Jones is a proud Aggie and recent graduate from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University with a B.S. in Animal Science. Tahirah currently attends The Ohio State University, where she is pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Veterinary Public Health. Tahirah was born and raised in the home of the blue crab, Maryland. She is academically interested in epidemiology, public health, access to healthcare, and fostering inclusive spaces for marginalized communities especially the youth within agriculture and related sciences. Her career aspiration is to eradicate or control zoonotic diseases in underserved communities using the One Health approach. 

Julie Jesmer

Julie Jesmer is the program coordinator for WRASAP (Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program). She works in administrative and outreach capacities focusing on collaborating, connecting, and organizing people and organizations that share a vision for addressing agricultural stress in all of its complexity. Her widely varied educational and work background gives her a unique perspective that can blend mental health concepts and community development with a backdrop of agricultural awareness. 

Julie grew up in Denver, Colorado. She was raised in the city, by parents who grew up on high country cattle ranches. She has been a clinical laboratory technician, a research scientist, a case manager in a juvenile prison, a community college instructor, a single mother, a non-profit organization manager, and a perpetual student. Julie has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s degree in agriculture, specializing in Urban Agriculture.

Wallace Ip

Wallace Ip has been with the Consulate General of Canada in Denver since August 2020 as the lead on agriculture trade policy and business development. Previously, he served as Deputy Director of the North America Advocacy Division at Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa, where he was responsible for coordinating Canadian ministerial outreach and high-level engagement with senior U.S. and Mexican officials on key bilateral and trilateral priorities, including on USMCA, energy and environment, and border issues. From 2012 to 2016, he led the investment and innovation team at the Embassy of Canada in Beijing, focusing on foreign direct investment attraction and advising Canadian companies on intellectual property issues and partnerships in the Chinese market.

Before joining the Canadian Foreign Service, Wallace was a consultant on transit planning and transportation engineering. He received his Bachelor of Applied Science in Honours Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Ilse Huerta

Dr. Huerta is a specialist in natural and social agricultural sciences. Originally from Irapuato, Guanajuato, she studied a B.S. in Agronomy at the University of Guanajuato (2010), a M.S. in Plant Pathology (2014) and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Extension Education with a dual-degree in International Agriculture and Development (2020), both at the Pennsylvania State University in the United States. 

While in the U.S., she stood out as a high-quality student and professional, holding leadership positions as president and treasurer in two different associations. She committed to supporting Spanish-speaking farm workers and producers in the state of Pennsylvania through her doctoral research and the founding of a support network for these groups, made up of professors, extension educators and the community. For this reasons, she was recognized by Penn State with three distinctions in 2019. 

In 2022, she was selected to participate in the international program “Global Guides” organized by the World Food Prize Association and by Global Teach Ag, where she worked with a group of 25 educators from various parts of the world on global food security education and professional development. 

Currently, she is a full-time professor in the Life Sciences Division of the University of Guanajuato, teaching courses such as Plant Pathology, Sustainable Rural Development, Basic Crops, and Vegetable Production.

Bill Hoffman

Bill Hoffman, former Chief of Staff at University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and former Chief of Staff at USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA), started as Executive Director, Cooperative Extension System (CES) and Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) at APLU last week.

As Chief of Staff at UTIA, Hoffman served on the leadership team to assist the Senior Vice President and Senior Vice Chancellor in leading a 2,700-employee enterprise that includes a college of agriculture, a college of veterinary medicine, a State Agriculture Experiment Station, and a Cooperative Extension Service.

Hoffman championed Cooperative Extension nationally in various roles at USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for over 20 years. As NIFA’s Chief of Staff, Hoffman served on the leadership team to assist the NIFA Director in leading a $2 billion extramural science funding agency. He supported the Director in key legislative initiatives including the formulation of the President’s budget request and annual appropriations process. He also developed and strengthened relationships with internal and external agencies, partners, stakeholders, and the public.

As a second-generation Cooperative Extension professional, Bill has been committed to Extension and the land-grant university mission throughout his life. He grew up on the Agronomy Research farm that his father managed as an Extension tillage specialist at Penn State University. He further developed his passion for Extension by visiting and seeing first-hand the impactful outcomes of Extension’s work across the U.S. and its territories at all types of institutions.

Hoffman earned a Doctor of Education: Higher Education Administration from George Washington University as well as a Master of Education: Instructional Systems, Master of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science: Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology from Penn State University.

Keith Harris

Dr. Harris serves as a National Program Leader within USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture. He manages a portfolio of applied research grant programs that includes research, education, and extension designed to address economic development challenges in rural communities. 

His academic an industry careers are dedicated to food and agriculture. Prior to his joining USDA-NIFA, Dr. Harris served as Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. Harris taught agribusiness management courses to senior managers, undergraduate, and graduate students worldwide. His teaching pedagogy accentuates decision-making in the real-life context in agribusiness. Dr. Harris’ scholarly research in transaction cost economics, network analysis and economic sociology spotlight organizations that collaborate strategically experience a marked increase in competitiveness and sustain performance. The findings are published in peer-reviewed academic journals, public press and presented at industry and academic conferences. 

Dr. Harris professional experiences include a 20-year industry career with increasing accountability managing agricultural commodity trading, supply chain management strategies, and global purchasing with multi-national consumer packaged goods companies. In addition, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras, C.A. as an Agribusiness Advisor where he worked to market tropical agricultural cash crops for rural communities.

Dr. Harris earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology from the University of Missouri- Columbia as a USDA National Needs Sustainability Doctoral Fellow. Harris earned a master’s degree in Agribusiness from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Lincoln University. Dr. Harris has served as a board of director, advisory member, strategic planning committees for-profit, academic and community-based organizations that are invested in food and agriculture.

Ben Grove

Ben Grove was recently named the assistant director for strategic partnerships and engagement for Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Global Programs and Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Grove has been with the college for 10 years, serving as assistant director of development, associate director of development, and director of development for Virginia Cooperative Extension as a part of the college’s advancement team.

Grove will actively build internal and external partnerships to support global engagement, as well as provide leadership to faculty and student programs.

As director of development for Extension, Ben was primarily responsible for major gift fundraising to support college and Extension programs, activities, and positions.

He worked collaboratively with the college’s development staff, university advancement personnel, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Leadership Council, the Virginia 4-H Foundation Board, and Extension faculty, staff, and volunteer groups to oversee all aspects of philanthropic support for Extension.

Grove was a member of the inaugural class of Virginia Agricultural Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) and served on the Pamplin MBA Advisory Board. He has participated in abroad programs in Europe and South America, and did service work in Central America. Grove is pursuing a Ph.D. in agricultural, leadership, and community education.   

Prior to Virginia Tech, Grove spent five years in the meat and poultry industry working in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and in Atlanta, Georgia, in quality assurance and sales roles.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal and poultry sciences and master’s degree in business administration, both from Virginia Tech.

William Gomez

William is full time researcher and lecturer in Institute of Agricultural and Rural Sciences – Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (2013-present). He is a Zootechnical Agronomist Engineer, has a master’s degree and PhD in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. He was a consultant for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA-Mexico). He is a member of several academic and scientific networks that promote territorial development at the national and international level. Currently, he is national coordinator of the RELASER Mexico Forum.

Gavriela Geller

Gavriela Geller, a native of Kansas City, is the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC Kansas City. JCRB|AJC is the representative body of the Jewish communities of Kansas and Western Missouri in matters of public policy, interfaith and intergroup relations, and works with law enforcement, media, and schools to address incidents of antisemitism. Over her five-year tenure, the organization has more than doubled in size, and has implemented a comprehensive proactive strategy to prevent antisemitism, working with partners across government and civil society.

Gavi previously worked for AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA), managing a grant from the Ford Foundation to strengthen Latino-Jewish relations around the country. She then directed the policy and advocacy efforts of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of St. Louis.  Gavi holds an M.A. in Jewish Cultural Arts from the George Washington University and is fluent in Spanish. 

Tony Frank

Dr. Tony Frank is the Chancellor of the CSU System. He previously served for 11 years as the 14th president of CSU in Fort Collins. Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residencies in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. Prior to his appointment as CSU’s president in 2008, he served as the University’s provost and executive vice president, vice president for research, chairman of the Pathology Department, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was appointed to a dual role as Chancellor in 2015 and became full-time System chancellor in July 2019.

Dr. Frank serves on a number of state and national boards, has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications, and has been honored with state and national awards for his leadership in higher education.

Dr. Frank and his wife, Dr. Patti Helper, have three daughters.

Daniel Foster

Dr. Daniel Foster is an Associate Professor of Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State. He provides leadership to the agricultural teacher preparation program at Penn State and with his wife, Dr. Melanie Miller Foster, co-founded the Global Teach Ag Network. His instructional responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate level teaching methods courses, courses in global agricultural education, courses in parliamentary procedure, and courses in other school-based agricultural education teacher education areas as needed. Daniel’s research focus is on developing digitally literate, globally competent agricultural educators who are prepared to help students engage in global food, fiber, and natural resource issues. Daniel loves playing domines (Texas 42), Willie Nelson, and Dallas Cowboys Football.

Victoria Flores-Parra

Victoria Flores Parra is a senior at Oregon State University (OSU), where she is majoring in Animal Sciences with a concentration in Animal BioHealth/Pre-Professional, along with a minor in Agricultural and Food Business Management. She actively engages in leadership roles, serving as the MANRRS Region VI Undergraduate Vice President, holding executive positions within the OSU MANRRS and SACNAS chapters, and acting as the Vice President of the OSU Equestrian Drill Team.

Victoria’s affinity for agriculture and community involvement began at a young age, fueled by her deep-rooted passion for horses. She started her competitive riding career in the Oregon Escaramuza Team, which spanned ten years. Victoria temporarily paused her competitive Escaramuza riding pursuits to focus on her academic studies and high school activities.

During her high school years, she was actively engaged in both the Oregon High School Equestrian Team (OHSET) and FFA. Within her high school’s FFA chapter, she assumed the role of Treasurer and President and successfully raised two market goats for local fairs while also competing in public speaking events. These experiences in FFA significantly contributed to the development of her leadership skills in agriculture.

Growing up in the Latino horse community, Victoria witnessed firsthand the importance of diversity and representation in the field of Veterinary Medicine. She observed that many members of the Latino community faced barriers in accessing veterinary services due to language barriers or a lack of understanding about the significance of preventative medicine. Victoria’s commitment to promoting diversity in agriculture and facilitating opportunities for her peers to excel reflects her passion for making positive changes in her field.

Beverly Flatt

As a first-generation cattle farmer, Bev Flatt knows the challenges facing both the global agricultural industry as well as the grassroots needs of farmers and ranchers worldwide. She is especially passionate about the next generation of agriculture and has used her experiences and platform to advocate for the industry from the US White House and EU parliament to urban gardening in Sao Paolo, and smallholder farmer trainings in Nigeria. In her role at Bayer Crop Science, Bev works to engage farmers’ voices in international agricultural policy development. She serves in leadership positions in multiple local and international organizations (e.g., Farm Bureau, SDSN, CEJA). Bev has been advocating for the industry, business, and customer for more than a decade.

Bev owns and operates a family farm in Hartsville, Tennessee. With her husband, she raises cattle, goats, chickens, and honey bees. Additionally, she creates value-added products for the farm, and gardens to sell produce at farmers’ markets. Flatt Rock Farms is also a popular spot for school field trips and Extension classes for new and beginning farmers.

Bev holds a B.S. in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Missouri, an M.Ed. in Agriculture and Extension Education from Tennessee State University, and a micromasters in Bio-Based Sciences for Sustainability from Wageningen University.

Salvador Fernández Rivera

Salvador Fernandez-Rivera works for Mexico´s Ministry of Agriculture, where he oversees policies on rural development and agricultural science and technology. After earning a Ph. D. in Animal Science in 1987 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in USA, he taught at the University of Chapingo in Mexico. From 1991 to 2007 he worked as scientist with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), a center of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research system. In ILRI he conducted and led research on the role of livestock in nutrient cycling and the improvement of food-feed crops in crop-livestock systems. He also coordinated a research program to sustainably improve the productivity of crop-livestock systems in countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. From 2007 to 2014 he served as Coordinator of Research, Innovation and Outreach of Mexico’s National Forestry, Crops and Livestock Research Institute. From 2014 to 2018, at the Interamerican Institute for Technical Cooperation on Agriculture, he led the technical cooperation among IICA’s 34 country members on issues related to family farming, inclusion, sustainability, resilience and competitiveness. Currently, at the Ministry of Agriculture, he leads the implementation of a rural development model based on participatory approaches, technological innovation, extension services and investments in productive and marketing assets in Mexico’s poorest family farming communities. In 2003 he was recipient of the American Society of Animal Science Bouffalt International Animal Agriculture Award.

Kellie Enns

Dr. Kellie Enns is the program lead and associate professor in agricultural education at Colorado State University. Kellie grew up raising Angus cattle and living on the beef research unit at a western Land-grant institution. It was in her formative years on the as a child on the university farm that she learned to appreciate the amazing intersection of teaching, research, and engagement as she witnessed it occurring all around her. Kellie received a degree in Animal Sciences from Washington State University and decided to pursue her love of teaching through a secondary license in agriculture. Kellie taught in a secondary agriculture program for nine years and then pursued her PhD in Educational Leadership at Colorado State University which lead her to her current role. Kellie has expanded the agricultural education program beyond just educator training into agricultural literacy and outreach spaces, including offering Problem-Based Learning through the Morgridge Learning Laboratory at CSU Spur. Kellie leads an amazing team of educators who desires to make a difference in the lives of students using agriculture as a context. Kellie is passionate about making agricultural education accessible to as many people as possible and encouraging the next generation of agriculture leaders through her position. Kellie is married to Dr. Mark Enns, a professor in animal breeding and genetics at Colorado State University. They have two awesome kids, Wyatt and Avery, and a small herd of Angus cattle.

Richard “Brent” Elrod

Brent Elrod is NIFA’s Acting Associate Director Programs and Agency Scientific & Research Integrity Officer. With the agency since 2008, he has also served as a Program Specialist, National Program Leader, Division Director, National Science Liaison, and Science Programs Analysis Officer.

Maha Elgenaidi

Maha is the founder of Islamic Networks Group (ING), and currently its Executive Director, overseeing the organization.  She is the author of training handbooks on outreach for American Muslims as well as training seminars for public institutions on developing cultural competency with the American Muslim community. She received an M.A. in religious studies from Stanford University and B.A in political science and economics from the American University in Cairo. She has taught classes on Islam in the modern world in universities such as Santa Clara University and the University of California at Santa Cruz, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the “Civil Rights Leadership Award” from the California Association of Human Relations Organizations, the “Citizen of the Year Award” from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and the “Dorothy Irene Height Community Award” from the NAACP-Silicon Valley. She’s currently an advisor for the CA Commission on Police Officers Standards and Training (POST), a member of the Council of Advisors for the Freedom Forum that helps shape American views on the First Amendment; and Commissioner on the County of Santa Clara’s Hate Crimes Task Force.

Julia Edwards

Julia is a National Ambassador for MANRRS and a junior at Utah State University. She’s pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems with a minor in Data Analytics and is passionate about operations management, data analytics, supply chain, and sustainability.

At Utah State, she serves as the Secretary for the MANRRS chapter and is the Vice President for the Shingo Institute Student Chapter. She’s also involved with Women in Tech and the Women in Business Association. Over the summer, she worked as an Operations Analyst for an automotive parts distributor and has collaborated on data mining projects with the World Meteorological Organization.

Julia is dedicated to advancing women and minorities in academic and professional spaces. In her free time, she enjoys oil painting, spending time with her family, going on hikes, and foraging.

Monty Dozier

Dozier offers thirty-five years of public service experience on the county and state level with a demonstrated successful history of working in cooperative extension and higher education. His skills include strategic planning, public speaking, leadership, community outreach, emergency management and public relations. 

Prior to his current position, Dozier served on the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike, for which he received formal recognition from Chancellor John Sharp of The Texas A&M University System.

He has co-written eleven journal articles, six Texas AgriLife Research technical publications and thirty-six peer-reviewed AgriLife Extension educational publications. He has written or co-written fifty abstracts for oral and poster papers presented at industry and association meetings and conferences, 246 project reports, and one International Agriculture Extension Outreach training manual.

Dozier received a doctoral degree from Texas A&M.

Kathleen Donohue

Kathleen Donohue is the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM)/Vice-President (VP) of the International Affairs Branch (IAB), which is a joint branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), focused on international market access, trade and regulatory cooperation, while also protecting Canadian food safety and animal and plant health. Integrating CFIA and AAFC’s international functions, IAB supports the government’s trade agenda, and industry, in maintaining and advancing new markets for Canadian products.

Kathleen brings extensive experience to her current position, having previously held the positions of Director General of the Market Access Secretariat (MAS), AAFC and Executive Director, Market Access Coordination, MAS at AAFC, as well as having served overseas as Counsellor (Agriculture) at the High Commission of Canada to India and as Counsellor (Commercial) and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada to Japan. 

Prior to serving abroad, Kathleen worked in various executive positions at AAFC, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) focused on advancing Canada’s trade, investment and innovation agenda. 

Born in Montréal, Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Concordia University and is a graduate of the School of Community and Public Affairs.‎ 

Amanda Dickson

Amanda Dickson pours her daily tea from a worn leather cask she acquired in Paraguay 15 years ago. It carries not just tea, but memories of adventure and service — the same opportunities Dickson seeks to give others as international Extension program coordinator in International Programs in ​Agriculture (IPIA).

The native of Ponca City, Oklahoma studied agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University before joining the Peace Corps in 2003. In three-plus years as an agricultural and community development volunteer in Paraguay, Dickson assessed community needs and creatively addressed them. She introduced techniques for farmers to improve yield and sustainability, new cash crops, leadership training and health education. She extended her service to train incoming volunteers and assist outgoing personnel.

She returned to Oklahoma State to complete a master’s degree in 2009. Jobs were scarce, so when a Korean officemate mentioned the abundance of openings in her home country, Dickson signed on to teach English in Korea, first to elementary and middle schoolers, and then to university students.

Back in the U.S. two-and-a-half years later, she asked a mentor familiar with Extension to recommend the nation’s best Extension site. The answer: “You need to go to Purdue.” Dickson’s Extension career thus began in Brown County — a transition she calls “seamless.” As international Extension program coordinator, Dickson facilitates the cultural competence that comes from adapting to an unfamiliar culture. Toward that end, she asks two key questions: “How can I help Extension educators have international experiences and have them come back as better educators? How do they share those experiences with their local community members?” Her role is to find and fund those opportunities.

She is building a comprehensive program with three tiers of experiences for three distinct audiences. The first is local interaction with international communities in Indiana for people who lack time or interest in overseas travel. The next is weeklong study abroad or group travel involving faculty, Extension educators and students.

Dickson’s top tier — “the most exciting, the most impactful” — takes single or paired travelers on two- or three-week experiences. One such example is IPIA’s farmer-to-farmer program in which U.S. volunteers share specific skills with farmers in Colombia. “It’s all very hands-on and applicable to their lives,” she says.

For faculty, a top-tier experience might be a research project in another country with a tangible outcome that betters the lives of its people as well as those in other areas — a specific farming recommendation, or a product that is produced and sold, for example.

Purdue is a trendsetter in international development, Dickson says, “because our leadership sees its importance and supports it.” But she would like even more members of the university community to tap IPIA resources. “We have a lot of connections internationally, so if faculty want to start research in a certain region, we can open doors for them. On the other side of that, a lot of faculty may not think about the real-world application that Extension can bring to their project.

Derris Devost-Burnett

Dr. Derris Burnett is a meat scientist and muscle biologist involved in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at Mississippi State University. He also directs the meat science and muscle biology laboratory at MSU. In addition to his formal teaching responsibilities in meat science and growth physiology, his experience includes providing processing and marketing avenues for local meat animal producers. Dr. Burnett has also developed a mobile fabrication demonstration system used to educate small and limited resource farmers on ways to add value and profitability to their meat animal operations through retained ownership and direct marketing. He also recently received funding through industry partners to investigate the efficacy of natural antimicrobials on post-harvest processing and shelf-life of red meat, seafood, and produce products. Dr. Burnett has been involved with MANRRS for over 20 years first as a student, and then as a National Graduate VP, Co-Advisor, Alumni Committee Chair, National Secretary and currently as National President Elect. As both a beneficiary and a benefactor of the organization, Dr. Burnett is passionate about providing access and opportunity to students and professionals in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences.

Haile Deressa

Haile is a native Ethiopian who holds Master of Science in Agriculture (Agronomy). The last 15 years, Haile spent helping Ethiopian farmers and development agents while working with international development projects, national university and research institute as researcher, project innovator and manager. Currently, Haile is a Program Manager for CRS Farmer-to-Farmer in Ethiopia. Haile has developed expertise and skills in agronomy, soil fertility and health management, climate change adaptation and mitigation in agriculture, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Working in collaboration with different stakeholders (Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Institutes, Universities, private sectors and community-based organizations), Haile has developed skills in multi-stakeholder processes, participatory learning and action, institutional linkages and partnerships.

Haile has gained experiences in designing projects, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. He loves publication and knowledge sharing on project achievements and lessons. He has published 25 journal articles, with other scholars, in peer reviewed journals, proceedings and books of abstracts.

Haile tries and strives to use his skills to provide technical and strategic solutions to challenges of sustainable agriculture. As part of the national technical committee, he has been supporting the Ministry of Agriculture in developing the national soil health and fertility strategy, and facilitating the establishment of national soil management platform. Haile has been collaborating with Agriculture and Rural Development Partners Linkage Advisory Council (ARDPLAC) in identifying agricultural production constraints, designing and implementation of applied and action research, and participatory agricultural technology extension. With his current role at CRS Ethiopia, Haile is leading and coordinating US Volunteers’ technical supports to local host partners including farmers’ cooperative unions, private agribusinesses, universities and civil society organizations. He enjoys working with volunteers and host partners, identifying opportunities for learning, and knowledge and experience sharing on program impacts.

Megali Delomier

Magali Delomier grew up in a small village in central France. After six years of multidisciplinary university training (in environmental biology, rural planning and development, and rural tourism), she earned the title of master engineer in rural planning and development as well as a European master’s degree from the Sorbonne in Paris.

Following a trip around the world that included seven countries and a number of work assignments in New Zealand, Magali immigrated to Belgium in 2006. There she worked as a political advisor with the European Council of Young Farmers, notably in the fields of environment and land-use planning.

In 2009, Ms. Delomier accepted a position as executive director with the Fédération de la relève agricole du Québec (the province-wide young farmers’ federation) . This meant leaving Belgium and immigrating, for the second time, to Quebec. For nearly eight years she developed the organization, helping it to become more firmly entrenched in the province and significantly increasing the human and financial resources at its disposal.

She subsequently took on new challenges as director of union and public affairs at the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) Confederation. For six years, she oversaw various efforts in communications, public relations, and syndicate affairs. She also spearheaded major events to promote the agricultural profession, raise the profile of the UPA, increase mobilization and invigorate the life of the organization—all while leading a busy personal life with two young children.

Today Ms. Delomier works as deputy executive director of the UPA. Alongside the executive director and other management committee members, she works primarily to maintain collaborative relationships with the organization’s external and internal partners, including its affiliated and subsidiary bodies—all in an effort to coordinate collective actions that serve the UPA’s mission and objectives, and to play a strategic advisory role in the representation, cohesion, and development of the organization.

Andrea De Roo

Andrea is a grain and cattle farmer in Saskatchewan and the Director of Agronomy for Crop Intelligence, a precision ag company, in western Canada. She has a Bachelors and Masters degree from the University of Saskatchewan, as well as, Certified Crop Advisor — 4R Nutrient Management and Professional Agrologist designations.

Her passion and work focuses on the financial, environmental, and social sustainability of primary producers and rural communities. These experiences led her to join the first cohort of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council; a group of youth advising the federal Ministry of Agriculture in Canada on policy and promoting youth involvement in agriculture.

Jon Davis

Jon Davis is a North Carolina native from Buncombe County and a graduate of NCSSM. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Reed College and a master’s degree in botany from the University of Georgia. He has taught for Durham Public Schools, the Duke University Talent Identification Program, and the Science House at NC State University. He has led summer teacher workshops for NCSSM and the NC Biotechnology Center and has taught a variety of courses and seminars at NCSSM in the areas of genetics, botany, biotechnology, precision agriculture, vertical farming, human evolution, and environmental science. Most of his teaching has been at a distance, via videoconference and online, traveling around the state to provide hands-on labs.

He loves connecting student researchers to global opportunities to promote sustainable economic growth. Following a short stint consulting at Google in 2014, he has been integrating Arduino microcontrollers into hydroponic and traditional gardens to better understand growing conditions. Going forward he would love to work with entrepreneurial-minded students to engineer new tools of scientific discovery.

Joel Currier

Joel Currier is a fifth-generation rancher from Molina, Colorado. Joel attended Colorado State University and received a degree in Agricultural Business before returning home to the ranch where he and his father run 450 cow-calf pairs of Angus, Hereford and Charolais crosses. During the summer months their cattle are grazed on the Grand Mesa National Forest so they can raise approximately 1,000 acres of grass/alfalfa hay that can be used as feed during the winter. When Joel is not at home working on the ranch, he is usually at a Farm Bureau Event. After his involvement in FFA during high school, Joel began his Farm Bureau journey as a colligate member at CSU before becoming involved at the county, state, and even national levels. Currently Joel serves as his county’s Farm Bureau Board Vice President and serves as Secretary on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.

Anne-Marie Croux

Over the course of her 20 years with the Government of Canada, Anne-Marie has occupied many different functions including that of business development officer as well as trade policy officer in the agriculture sector and as has served as a Trade Commissioner at Canada’s Embassy in Mexico. She has also worked in the transportation sector, managing a grants and contributions programs to enhance the efficiency of trade corridors in Canada.

She holds a bachelors in Business Administration from HEC Montreal and a Master in Business Administration from University of Ottawa.

Kerri Conway

Kerri Conway joined the Colorado State University System in 2018 and serves as Special Advisor to the Chancellor and Director of International Agriculture at the Spur Campus of the new National Western Center. The Center, opening in 2022, will focus on research outcomes and programs within the U.S. and internationally on the interface of food, water, and health (both human and animal) and serve as a place to gather, learn and encourage new agricultural innovations.

A thought leader in international agriculture development with more than 25 years of experience in the design, management, implementation, and scaling of innovative ideas, Kerri has a passion for formulating new ways to capture learning, share knowledge, and build effective partnerships and successful programs.

Her experience includes designing global policy dialogues, moving emerging technologies to market, and creating platforms for sustainable development and impact. Her partners and clients include groups such as The World Bank, The U.S. Agency for International Development, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Crop Trust, The International Food Policy Research Institute and other Centers in the CGIAR.

Peggy Carlson

Peggy Carlson works in the USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security as Program Manager for the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program. She also supports extension and advisory services programming, agriculture and resilience activities at various USAID Missions, and other tasks in the Center for Agriculture-led Growth. Prior to joining USAID, Ms. Carlson worked in a variety of roles for NGOs and private companies managing agriculture, food security, and nutrition activities in more than 30 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Jose Cano

Mr. Cano possesses more than 25 years of experience in the fields of food security, agricultural production, environmental management, and economic, rural, and social development. His professional experience in the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and international institutions spans several geographies including Central America and the Caribbean. In addition, he has expertise in developing public-private partnerships and consortiums among local stakeholders in his home country of Guatemala.  

His technical expertise includes agriculture, forestry, environmental resources, and value chain development both regionally and nationally. His experience and educational background in designing and implementing programs related to food security and rural development enterprises with a particular focus on horticulture, annual crops of high commercial value, and livestock with an emphasis in rural value chains.

Jill Bramble

Jill Bramble is President and Chief Executive Officer at National 4-H Council, the nonprofit partner to Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. An experienced nonprofit leader, she has dedicated more than 18 years of service to National 4-H Council, starting as a grant writer and rising through the ranks to join the executive leadership team in 2013.

A fourth generation 4-H’er from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Jill knows firsthand the life-changing impact of 4-H programs and volunteers. A champion of young people and their ability to drive change, she is motivated every single day to pay it forward and ensure these same opportunities are available to all youth.

Jill has cultivated teams and organizations to grow the impact of their missions through sustainable, social impact investments. Prior to stepping into her role as CEO, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer focusing on the enterprise alignment of people, marketing, partnerships, and processes to drive revenue and ensure all young people have the opportunity to access 4-H’s positive youth development programs. As Council’s Chief Development Officer, she led a team of development professionals and oversaw a portfolio of corporate and foundation partnerships that raised more than $35 million annually to grow and support Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. Before joining National 4-H Council, Jill was a senior consultant for Just Cause Consulting where she led strategic planning and grant-writing for nonprofit organizations on the East Coast. Prior to her consulting work, Jill was the Income Development Director for the Mid-Atlantic Division of the American Cancer Society where she led fundraising and local board development in Maryland and Delaware.

Jill received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Maryland. Jill and her husband, Scott, have two children, Nick and Jordan.”

Olga Bolden-Tiller

Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, assumed the deanship of the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences (CAENS) and 1890 Research Director, effective January 1, 2022. Dr. Bolden-Tiller was a Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Assistant Dean for Development in CAENS.

Bolden-Tiller is a graduate of Fort Valley State University. She has a Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has done post-graduate work in Academic Leadership at the University of Chicago School of Professional Psychology. 

Prior to her employment at Tuskegee University in 2006, she served as a Visiting Scientist at the University of Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center, an adjunct faculty member in the Houston Community College System, and as support faculty and Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Texas -MD Anderson Cancer Center.  At Tuskegee, she worked herself up through the ranks from assistant professor to full professor and finally head of the department, having received numerous awards, including the TU Outstanding Faculty Performance Awards for Teaching and Outreach as well as TU’s Faculty Achievement Award, the highest honor given to faculty at the institution.

She is a successful grant writer and has acquired extramural funding for grants ranging from $52,000 to $20 million, supporting the training of numerous high school students and over 50 undergraduate and graduate students which has resulted in numerous publications.

She holds memberships and leadership roles in several professional associations including the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences for which she currently serves as the President. She was recently appointed to serve on the board for Together We Grow and the Farm Journal Foundation as well as a member of the Blue-Ribbon Panel for Enhancing Coordination Between Land-Grant Universities and Colleges organized by the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine on behalf of the USDA.

Nikita Bhusal

Nikita Bhusal is a country representative for the United States of America within the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) organization. Presently, Nikita is a second-year doctoral student specializing in Food Science at the University of Florida. Her academic pursuits and passions revolve around topics such as food safety, food microbiology, produce safety, climate change, sustainable food supply chains, and advocacy for youth involvement in agriculture.

Brodie Berrigan

As Director of Government Relations and Farm Policy at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Brodie plays a critical role in coordinating CFA’s policy activities and enacting a strategic approach to CFA’s government relations activities while leading on key files like BRM, labor, and trade and transportation. Prior to CFA, Brodie worked at the Government of Canada for over 16 years in several departments including Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Privy Council Office, and Employment and Social Development Canada.

Sanah Baig

Sanah Baig has served USDA across two Presidential administrations. She was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE) in November 2022. In her role as Deputy Under Secretary, Baig leads the management of the more than $4 billion USDA Science enterprise responsible for ensuring U.S. agriculture’s success through the advancement of science, technology, and innovation. Under Baig’s leadership, REE is focused on increasing research and extension support for underserved communities and strengthening partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, advancing precision nutrition research in support of more equitable health outcomes, and positioning agricultural transformation as a fundamental solution to fighting the climate crisis. Prior to this role, Baig served for one and a half years as the REE Chief of Staff. Before returning to federal service in 2021, Baig served for three years as Chief of Staff for the global nonprofit the Good Food Institute. She also served as Program Director at the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C. Baig worked at USDA for six years during Obama Administration, in a variety of capacities including serving as an advisor in the Office of the Secretary, Rural Development, and the Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) mission area. Baig started her federal career at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after working at the Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) Woodbridge campus. She is a proud D.C. resident and graduate of the University of Virginia.

Lauren Baer

Lauren Baer is the Executive Director for Together We Grow, located at Colorado State University. In this role, Lauren works alongside a consortium of many of the world’s largest agribusiness and food interests, including members of industry, non-governmental organizations, higher education, and government institutions. Together We Grow is focused on building a skilled, diverse, and inclusive workforce for agriculture and food that can power the innovation needed to feed the future.

Lauren has a passion for people and problem solving. Her professional and personal passions align on creating more equitable and inclusive environments, understanding and mitigating barriers to entry and success for diverse populations and focusing on sustainable food systems. She thrives on connecting resources and people to reach greater and more productive outcomes than could be achieved alone.

Lauren has spent her career focused on the workforce in the energy, manufacturing, and retail industries. She most recently served as Vice President, Human Resources and Community Investments for QEP Energy where she had responsibility for human resources, community investments and partnerships and corporate communications. Lauren has been featured in Profile magazine for her work in leadership and corporate culture, and she was recognized on the 2020 list of top women in energy by the Denver Business Journal. Lauren currently serves on the board of directors for the Colorado FFA Foundation and previously served on the board of the Kareem Jackson Foundation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational and interpersonal communications from Oral Roberts University and a master’s degree in business from Oklahoma State University.

Jesus Arevalo Zarco

Agricultural Engineer specializing in soils, graduated with honors from Universidad Autónoma Chapingo for research on the nutrition and production of grafted tomatoes. Holds a Master’s degree in Horticultural Production from the University of Almería, Spain, with a focus on organic mini bell pepper cultivation under cover, and a Diploma in Agri-food Business Management from IPADE.

He led the Soil and Water Fertility department at Fertilab, an agricultural analysis laboratory, generating crop fertilization recommendations based on soil analysis. He later developed their first software for fertilizer recommendations, aiding farmers in optimal fertilizer use.

Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) by the American Society of Agronomy, he has provided advisory, training, and consulting services on grain and vegetable nutrition in open-field and greenhouse settings across Mexico and some Latin American countries. He served as an advisor to indigenous coffee farmers in the Sierra Negra de Puebla, helping them achieve organic certification and export to Germany under an FAO program.

He is a member of the Soil Science Society of America and the Sociedad Mexicana de la Ciencia del Suelo. He has authored and co-authored seven book chapters and written 15 popular articles. Currently, he is a vegetable grower and serves as the director of Intagri.

Tom Archibald

Thomas Archibald is the Executive Director of the Center for International Research, Education and Development at Virginia Tech, where he is also an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Evaluation Association (AEA) and is an Associate Editor of the journal Evaluation and Program Planning. A winner of the AEA Marcia Guttentag Promising New Evaluator Award, he received his PhD in Adult and Extension Education from Cornell University in 2013.