Paula Faulkner, Ph.D

In the chapter, Faulkner; Eihab Mohamed Fathelrahman of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in the U.A.E.; and Ghaleb A. Al Hadrami Al Breiki of United Arab Emirates University discuss the ways agricultural education, research and Extension services address educational challenges and foster food security and sustainability in countries participating in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including fostering agricultural development, helping countries achieve food security goals and sustainability, and develop as industry entrepreneurs.

By Curlan Campbell, NOW Granada - reprinted with permission

Paula Faulkner, left, project director of the Multicultural Scholars Program, stands with scholars Oyon Martin, JaQuan Battle, Tahmyah Beaty Brown and Kyra Pierce. Meeshay Williams-Wheeler, front left, was also on the trip as a faculty mentor.

T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) hosted students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as part of their faculty-led study abroad for the USDA National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Multicultural Scholars Program. This program, through scholarships, aims to provide career-enhancing opportunities to underrepresented students to prepare them for the workforce in the food and agricultural sciences field.

This work is funded and supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is designated as the lead federal agency that supports higher education in agriculture-related sciences.

The study abroad trip, which was two-fold, saw faculty and students from N.C. A&T gaining cultural awareness in an international setting, and getting the opportunity to practice research, technology, and communication skills.

As part of their mission, the students conducted a poster session on May 16 on the community college campus. Their research focused on various tropical agriculture topics centered on their academic disciplines, which include Agricultural Education, Animal Science, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Sustainable Land and Food Systems.

Students were accompanied by the project director Paula Faulkner, Ph.D., alongside Meeshay Williams-Wheeler, Ph.D., a faculty member of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Faulkner told NOW Grenada that the students benefitted greatly from this exchange.  “Both institutions gained knowledge about academic programs each institution offers for students to gain degrees in agriculture, early childhood education, and education, which can benefit students in their academic endeavors,” Faulkner said. “Student and faculty exchanges may be possible as well, along with MOUs and affiliations. During discussions between A&T faculty, TAMCC faculty and administrators, and government officials, possible future projects on the best ways to increase the number of underrepresented groups choosing degree programs and careers in agriculture and related fields were discussed due to the wealth of agriculture resources in Grenada,” she added.

While on the island, the team met with various officials from the college and paid special visits to several locations, including the Grenada Produce Chemistry Laboratory and Mirabeau Campus, Grand Etang Rain Forest and Lake, Grenville Fish Market, Concord Falls Nutmeg Museum, Diamond Chocolate Factory, Underwater Sculpture Park, and Belmont Estate.

“We learned about Grenada and possible ways to partner on future projects, such as educating students, and possible grants to enhance campus facilities and resources. The four students gained global agriculture knowledge by participating in lectures, laboratory tours and field trips throughout Grenada; enhanced technology and communication skills by developing and presenting presentations for their research findings; and increased cultural competencies.

“Upon their return to the U.S., the students will continue to share what they learned by writing and presenting reports on the differences and similarities they discovered between the U.S. and tropical agriculture systems,” Faulkner said.