PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 9, 2026) — As Women’s History Month celebrates the theme “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” Prairie View A&M University researcher Dr. Therese Pennell is helping farmers across the South adopt more sustainable agricultural practices.
Therese Pennell, PhD
Dr. Pennell, an associate professor in the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, has secured nearly $33,000 in funding through Texas A&M AgriLife Research to lead a new outreach initiative supporting farmers in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama. The project will focus on helping producers grow and market native grass seeds that improve soil health, support livestock grazing and strengthen farms’ resilience to changing climate conditions.
Pennell’s outreach work builds on PVAMU’s ongoing research into native grasses, helping connect farmers, seed companies, researchers and agricultural agencies to share best practices and strengthen regional partnerships.
Outreach efforts will include newsletters, articles in local agricultural publications, social media and a new website designed to make research findings easier for farmers and producers to access.
Two undergraduate students from PVAMU’s Department of Languages and Communication will help lead the project’s media campaign. The students will produce bilingual content in English and Spanish for platforms such as LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Instagram and Facebook, documenting research progress through photos, videos and interviews.
By translating research into practical information for producers, the initiative aims to increase access to regionally adapted native seeds while supporting sustainable farming practices across the region.
The outreach program will run from early 2026 through 2028 and include field visits, digital updates and regular features highlighting opportunities for farmers throughout the Southern United States.
Pennell’s work reflects PVAMU’s land-grant mission to combine teaching, research and outreach in service to communities, strengthening rural economies while promoting long-term environmental sustainability.
A modified version of this story was originally published at pvamu.edu/research.
-PVAMU-