|
|
|
|
|
|
| Campus Chatter - Feb. 2, 2011 |
|
|
|
UoI announces International Seed Grants Program winners
URBANA, Ill. — Three University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) faculty members have been selected for funding in the International Seed Grants Program sponsored by the U of I College of ACES Office of International Programs.
The 2010 recipients include Gale Summerfield of Human and Community Development, Juan Andrade of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and J. Ryan Stewart of Crop Sciences.
The aim of the International Seed Grants Program is to allow select faculty and scientists within the College of ACES to engage in international collaborations that will help them pursue new opportunities in research, education, and outreach. The program has been awarding grants each semester to qualified ACES faculty since 2003. The 2010 projects are supported by the Arlys Conrad Endowment Fund.
Summerfield’s study will address migrant women’s land rights in China, in collaboration with the Women’s Studies Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Summerfield hopes to lay the foundation for economic restructuring policies and the well-being of families in China.
In partnership with Zamorano University in Honduras, Andrade will focus on the Nutrigems project, which will teach Honduran mothers how to fortify rice with iron in order to battle malnutrition in rural areas.
Stewart hopes to enhance understanding of undergraduate horticulture students at the U of I and Hokkaido University in Japan about methodologies in plant propagation useful for propagation of uncommon fruit crops native to the United States and Japan.
The College of ACES Office of International Programs will be accepting additional applications for International Seed Grant funding in the Spring 2011 semester.
UT Extension appoints new regional director
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — James G. Stewart has been appointed as the new Central Region director for University of Tennessee Extension. Stewart’s appointment is effective Jan. 1.
UT Extension is organized under three regional units – Eastern, Central and Western. As director of the Central Region, which is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Stewart will oversee Extension’s adult agriculture and family and consumer science educational activities as well as the 4-H youth development activities of the region’s 31 counties. For the past 13 years Stewart has served as the region’s adult agriculture and 4-H program leader.
In a note to faculty and staff UT Extension Dean Tim Cross said Stewart’s extensive Extension background will be an asset to his efforts on behalf of the Central Region. “He previously served as County Extension Agent and County Extension Coordinator at the University of Georgia before joining UT Extension as Regional Program Leader in the Central Region in 1997,” Cross wrote. “I am confident that Jim possesses the skills, abilities, and knowledge to effectively lead and administer our Central Region office.”
Stewart has performed numerous leadership roles while serving UT Extension. Most recently he has been a member of the UT Extension Strategic Planning Committee, which is working to set guidelines for UT Extension’s next 10 years and beyond as the university’s off-campus educational outreach program. Co-director of the State 4-H Performing Arts Troupe, Stewart is also a representative on the UT Extension Advisory Council, which meets twice a year with stakeholders statewide to ensure that the direction and quality of programming available is on target regarding community needs.
Stewart is a founding member of the Tennessee State Fair Livestock Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the National Association of County Agriculture Agents (NACAA), the Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Honorary Society, and the Gamma Sigma Delta Agriculture Honor Society as well as a 2009 graduate of the LEAD21 National Leadership Program for faculty and others associated with land grant universities’ colleges of agricultural, environmental, and human sciences.
NCBA accepting applications for public policy internship
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc.’s (NCBA) government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for a public policy internship.
“One of the best ways to prepare to join the workforce after college is to gain real-world experience through internships,” said NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts. “We are looking for college students with an interest in the beef industry and in public policy to help NCBA represent U.S. cattlemen and women in Washington, D.C. The internship is designed to work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill; to assist with NCBA’s regulatory efforts; and to work closely with the communications team.”
The full-time internship will begin May 23, 2011 and end Aug. 12, 2011. To apply, interested college juniors and seniors should submit the application, an official college transcript, two letters of recommendation and a resume to internships@beef.org More information about the NCBA public policy internship is available.
“From food safety and trade to environmental issues and taxes, this internship will give college students the opportunity to work alongside NCBA staff on many critical issues affecting U.S. cattlemen and women.” said Butts. “If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to apply.”
UT ag economics leader wins national honor
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dr. Clark D. Garland, professor at the University of Tennessee, has received the 2010 National Award for Excellence in Extension for the Southern region from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. This award is presented annually to an individual who has strived throughout his or her career to make significant impacts on those who are served by Extension. The award was presented to Garland in Dallas, Texas at the Association’s annual meeting this weekend.
Dr. Garland’s signature career achievement is developing and leading the highly successful MANAGE program. This program provides specialists who work directly with Extension agents and farm families to improve farmer’s economic, social and environmental conditions.
More than 18,000 farm families in Tennessee have greatly benefited from the MANAGE program, which has been recognized as among the strongest and most effective in the nation.
Dr. Garland has served UT Extension in agricultural economics for more than 39 years, is the original coordinator of MANAGE, and chairs the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative Farmer Education Team. He has anticipated emerging issues, excels at Extension programming, and continues to provide visionary leadership. |
| 2/3/2011 |
|
|
