The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences
Vol 1. No. 1
Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas
January 2015
CDE & LDE Help Expand the College’s Outreach
An Interview with Coordinator Dr. Wash Jones
Recruitment and marketing efforts in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences are expanding through hosting of FFA Career Development Events (CDE) and Leadership Development Events (LDE). The College hosted its inaugural CDE in February 2014 followed by its inaugural LDE in October 2014. Both events were considered highly successful. The events, targeting high school FFA students, provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their abilities in various career and leadership areas such as veterinary science, public speaking, nursery and floriculture, land judging, communication and wildlife. CAHS hosts one of many CDE and LDE competitions conducted around the state throughout the year. Wash A. Jones, Assistant Professor in CAHS and Chair of the CDE and LDE Planning Committees, said that, in addition to FFA students gaining valuable contest experience, the events provide excellent exposure for the College by showing students academic opportunities available to them at PVAMU. “Bringing students to Prairie View A&M University leads them to realize that we are another option for them if they want to pursue a degree in agriculture,” Jones said. Additionally, research findings suggest that significant others, such as agriculture teachers, in the lives of high school students boost the likelihood that these students will pursue agriculture careers. Therefore, having the agriculture science teachers on campus with the students heightens the possibility that the teachers will encourage their students to consider PVAMU College of Agriculture and Human Sciences as an option for enrollment. The next CDE at PVAMU is scheduled for February 26, 2015.
Registration is available at www.judgingcard.com.
Impact: Investments that Make a Difference Alfred L. Parks, Professor of Agricultural Economics
Have you ever wondered why people do, what they do? Are you ever curious, what makes people chose the profession they do? I often get the following question from students that goes something like, “Doc how much can I make?” Immediately I think, you never ask an economist such a loaded question and expect a direct answer. My response of course is “It depends!” It depends means that there are many variables to consider and you cannot tell what is inside a person. You can never know the “make-up” of a person; what drives them. It’s like asking how many seeds are in an apple? You don’t know. It depends. Making investments that make a difference means that we cannot tell what’s in a person, no more than we can tell how many seeds are in n apple. Making investments that last means that as we invest in our students we are making investments that will pay dividends for many, many years to come. Throughout my career in academia I have often been asked these questions, “Why did you choose to be a professor?” “Couldn’t you have made more money in the corporate sector?” Maybe so, but at the end of the day what would I have accomplished? Sowing into the lives of others; our students and making investments that transcends generations, to me that’s an investment that dares to make a difference.
CAHS STAFF OF THE YEAR....Inez Simien !!!
The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences is pleased to salute Inez Simien for being recognized as a “Staff of the Year”. With her hard work and diligent sacrifice, Ms. Simien is a recipient of the annual award. The Staff Advisory Council at PVAMU recognizes individuals who provide a special contribution to the mission of the university and exemplify excellence and integrity to workplace relationships. Inez exhibits exceptional resourcefulness, innovation and creativity in the Cooperative Extension Program’s 4-H component. Her volunteer efforts do not go unnoticed as the registration lead of many programs and events hosted by the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences. We are proud of Ms. Simien and thank her for her dedication to the CAHS
“Those that fail to plan, plan to fail.”
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ave you ever hosted a party or event and thought, “I knew I was forgetting, something”? Maybe you didn’t get all of the support you needed and found yourself running around in circles. It could be you ended up paying for last minute supplies out of pocket, to make things come together. Don’t fret! The CAHS has developed an all-in-one resolution to help with planning, as well as ensuring that your event is aligned with the strategic plan. The Program Planning Approval Form (PPAF), allows you to recruit help, forecast a budget, secure venues and establish sub-committee chairpersons to help make your event a success. The PPAF is available on our Public Relations webpage, www.pvamu. edu/cahs/publicrelations. On the webpage you will also find a link to the Plan of Work and Strategic Plan document to help you fill out the ‘Executive Summary’ portion of the form. “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” – Paul J. Meyer
CAHS it’s your birthday! January and February LaRachelle Smith, DOMCIT; 1/1 Milton Daley, Agriculture; 1/8 Maurice Perkins, DOMCIT; 1/8 Craig Warner, FISCO; 1/17 Annette Bowdre, CEP FCS; 1/22 Rolando Zamora, CEP; ( Willacy) 2/3 Diane Turner, FISCO; 2/12 Vida Harrison, CEP (Harris); 2/12 Grace Guerra-Gonzalez, CEP (Bexar); 2/15 LaBeaula Times, DOMCIT; 2/16
Let us know if you or someone you may know in the college has a upcoming birthday.
PVCAHS Spring 2015 Career Fair Employers and vendors are invited to participate in the Prairie View A&M University Career Fair strictly focusing on Agriculture and Human Sciences related fields. The event will be held on, March 11, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the campus of Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. PVAMU CAHS students and alumni are encouraged to attend. Help us to identify potential businesses to invite to our inaugural CAHS Career Fair. If you have a working relationship or know of agriculture and human sciences businesses for us to contact, please forward us the information to cahsinfo@pvamu.edu. Businesses can register online at www.pvamu.edu/cahs/career-fair
Scholarship Deadlines Rapidly Approaching
Spring brings in growth, warmer temperatures and life. Spring also is a time when students are making plans for their future. Whether high school students are choosing what college to attend in the Fall or current college students are trying to find money to pay for the upcoming year, the Spring is a time of movement, hustle and bustle. Make sure you encourage students to visit the CAHS Scholarships page!
WWW.PVAMU.EDU/CAHS/SCHOLARSHIPS
CAHS we have spirit . . . How about you?
Did you know that you could purchase some of your favorite CAHS branded merchandise? From the “Down to Earth” t-shirt, to the new see through CAHS umbrella, we have it available for you at the CAHS Marketplace. We encourage you to get yours TODAY, while supplies last!
Y BU Y A TOD
Allergen-free Peanuts Godson O. Osuji, Research Scientist
Peanuts contribute more than 4 billion dollars annually to the US economy. But arachins are the undesirable components of peanuts that pose a health risks to many peanut consumers. Arachins are the allergenic proteins of peanuts. Due to the proprietary dependence of genetically modified food, Prairie View A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Human Science decided to develop a general-purpose biotechnology for producing allergen-free peanut. A general-purpose biotechnology would enable limited resource farmers to produce allergen-free peanut thereby increasing farm income.