Progress 01/01/22 to 10/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this conference proposal included undergraduate and graduate students, and faculty members at the 1890 land grant universities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This symposium provided facilitated workshops for the students at the 1890 universities to engage professionals regarding career and employment opportunities and graduate and professional education opportunities. Nine student workshops were conducted: COVID-19 Safety and Mental Health: Dr. Shirley Evers-Manly, Dean of the School of Nursing at Alcorn University, conducted a session for our students on information about safety methods to use the COVID-19 pandemic as well as how to maintain a healthy mental state during these and other difficult times. Life After College: This session provided advice and guidance from university, private and public sector organization and representatives. Presenters (Daniel Whitley, USDA/FAS Administrator; Renita Marshall, Vice Chancellor/Associate Dean for the College of Agricultural, Family, and Consumer Sciences at Southern University; Theressa Cooper, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Director of the G. W. Carver Summer Research Internship Program at Iowa State University; LaKisha Odom, Scientific Program Director-Soil Health at the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research; and Antonio McLaren, Vice President, Program Innovation and Implementation at the 1890 Universities Foundation) discussed their journey from college to their current role. In addition, information was shared about specific graduate schools, international and domestic research, travel abroad experiences, and other relevant information. Empowerment For Future-Ready Technical Skills: In this session, representatives from MicroSoft (Dominick Dennisur, Krystin McCauley, Melissa Hortman, Olivia Henshaw and David Miller) led a session on how to integrate cloud technology to focus on what matters most--student research! From free Azure credits to open communities of practice, MicroSoft engaged the students in a discussion on to prepare for the future of research. A variety of learning paths, certifications, and fellowship for students will introduced that could help build skill sets and resumes. Leadership and Professional Development: Karla Hollis, USDA/1890 Program Liaison at Fort Valley State University, moderated this session which focused on three important topics: Resume Development (how to develop a federal and private industry resume that includes the contents and format needed when applying for employment; (Interviewing Tips (provided information about interviewing techniques, in-person and virtually, for the government and the private sector) and Communication and Soft Skills (provided information on communication techniques that are transferable and that will develop professional skills for any career. The panelists also pointed out that soft skills are related to positive attitudes and intuitions in and outside of the work environment that will lead to become a productive employee). The panel consisted of Eloris Speight (Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University; Kelty Riddle, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank; and Lisa Williamson (PlusOne Coach, LLC). Career Development: Horace Hodge, USDA/1890 Program Liaison at Prairie View University, moderated this session which focused on Agricultural Careers. Agricultural Careers-Part I (Federal Government): This workshop provided information on many career opportunities in USDA. Participants also learned about the federal application process and the USDA Pathways Program (Internship) for Students and Recent Graduates. Karla Hollis, USDA/1890 Program Liaison at Fort Valley State University, presented very useful information in this workshop. Agricultural Careers - Part II (Private Sector). This workshop provided information on career opportunities and the application process for internships and training programs in private industry. Ebony Webb, Chief Operating Officer MANRSS, conducted this very interactive an engaging workshop. Microsoft: Academic Research and the Cloud, Accelerating Innovations with MicroSoft Azure: Researchers around the world are using Microsoft Azure to accelerate and innovate in their research. Microsoft Azure is an open, flexible, global platform that allows researchers to achieve faster results using the cloud. The MicroSoft research team informed and demonstrated to the students that they (MicroSoft) can partner with them to provide strategies and solutions around academic research, but it is the students (and faculty) who is changing the world through their research. In this session, MicroSoft shared stories from researchers describing how they leverage Microsoft Azure in their research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A final conference report will be disseminated to the administrators in the 1890 system, to the NIFA and USDA administrators, and to our sponsors and exhibitors. This conference report will also be placed on the ARD's website: www.umes.edu/ard What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The major goals of this professional meeting was to support undergraduate and graduate student participation in the 2022 research symposium planned and hosted by the Association of Research Directors (ARD) for the 1890 land-grant universities. The ARD Research Symposium provides a forum for interactions, knowledge-sharing, building networks for expanded partnerships and showcasing the talents and achievements of the 1890 community. In addition, the ARD Research Symposium addressed topic areas from the AFRI Foundational Program goals related to social science and interdisciplinary research projects such as rural communities and entrepreneurship, enhancing marketing opportunities, increasing profitability, consumer preferences and/or behaviors, healthy food choices, rural health, food deserts/food insecurity, ensuring the sustainability of natural resources and agricultural production systems, and strengthening families, farms, communities and the economy. The ARD research symposium also addressed "Strategic Goal 6: Attract, Inspire, and Retain an Engaged and Motivated Workforce that's Proud to Represent USDA" in the USDA Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2022-2026. The 20th Biennial Research Symposium was held in Atlanta, GA on April 2-5, 2022. One thousand and fifty two persons participated in this symposium and 721 research papers and posters were presented in five focus areas: (1) Family, Youth, Community and Economic Development; (2) Food Safety, Nutrition, Health and Health Disparities; (3) Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change; (4) Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; and (5) Animal Health and Production and Animal Products. By placing a particular emphasis on student participation, ARD provided students with a tremendous opportunity to network, to become exposed to the diversity of scientific disciplines in the food and agricultural sciences, including but not limited to, agricultural economics, agribusiness and the social and behavioral science disciplines. To address NIFA's goal of "educating the next generation of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human scientists," 442 students made scientific presentations at the symposium in competitive sessions. These presentations, as well as the faculty presentations, contributed positively to NIFA's mission "to invest in and advance agricultural research, education and extension to solve societal challenges." Finally, discussions during plenary sessions, special sessions, as well as workshops and paper and poster sessions focused on research innovations in the food and agricultural sciences and the role of the 1890 universities in implementing its innovation agenda that provides practical, science-based solutions to improve the quality of life of the citizens in the 1890 region and beyond.

Publications