January 14 – The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences started the year off right after Prairie View A&M University President, Dr. Ruth Simmons, graced the college with a personal visit.
President Simmons had a full afternoon on January 7, 2019, as she spent time with each area of the PV agriculture community. Accompanied by CAHS Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs, Dr. Gerard D’Souza, and members of her staff, she began with a brief meeting with faculty and staff in the Agriculture-Business Multipurpose Building. She then traveled to the Cooperative Agriculture Research Center to tour the offices, meet the college’s researchers and briefly viewed the labs where students are learning innovative techniques to advance agriculture.
On their next stop at the Carden-Waller Cooperative Extension Building, Simmons met with the staff and county agents who help make CEP a vital part of the PV Agriculture Tripartite. In a short round-table, everyone introduced themselves and shared how much they enjoy their role in Extension. Before moving on to the next part of her day with CAHS, she was able to taste several nutritional options that county agents promote through their programs. Simmons sampled kale chips, collard green chips, and cabbage chips.
She ended her visit with CAHS on a high note with an exclusive tour of the Bill and Vara Daniel Farm. While on the grounds, she saw recently planted sprouting cabbage and collard greens. She also had a chance to visit the International Goat Research Center where she had an up-close view of the goats.
Hosting the university’s president is a rare, but grand opportunity for CAHS. The visit enabled CAHS to showcase the hard work and accomplishments everyone has put in to make the college stand out. The president’s visit also gives the college the chance to see the areas where improvement is needed and explore necessary changes for an even more significant experience. Dean D’Souza hopes to have President Simmons visit the college again during the Spring 2019 semester.
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 1890 Extension Formula Formula Program projects under Section 1444.
Taelor Smith
Communications Specialist
tasmith@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5155