PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 17, 2026) — Ram Ray, Ph.D., P.E., a leading researcher and professor in the College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources at Prairie View A&M University, has secured a nearly $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to support the training of the next generation of students prepared for careers in agricultural trade.
Ram Ray, Ph.D., P.E.
Serving as co-principal investigators on the project are Kwaku Addo, Ph.D.; Godlove Fonjweng, Ph.D.; Aruna D. Weerasooriya, Ph.D.; Gebrekidan Tefera, Ph.D.; and Selamawit Woldesenbet, Ph.D., all of Prairie View A&M University.
This project aims to integrate teaching and research to strengthen Prairie View A&M University’s role in preparing a highly skilled workforce for the food, agriculture, and natural resources sectors. As global challenges in agricultural trade, food security, and resource management intensify, the project equips students with the knowledge and experience needed to compete in an increasingly global marketplace.
By prioritizing international exposure, students gain practical insight into global agricultural systems, research approaches, and market dynamics essential to expanding U.S. agricultural exports. The initiative is expected to increase the number of career-ready graduates while enhancing student recruitment and enrollment in PVAMU’s agriculture-related programs.
Aligned with Executive Order 14283, the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the project advances PVAMU’s capacity to deliver high-quality education, elevate research engagement, and strengthen workforce preparation in critical agricultural industries. “Dr. Ray’s research also supports the new priorities of the USDA NIFA and the Vision of Excellence in Research in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at PVAMU” stated Dr. Memili, Executive Asociate Director of CAFNR Research, and the Director of the Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Farm and Ranch at PVAMU.