Alumni featured on vet school website
Chandler and Chelsea Drumgoole ’19. Photo courtesy of NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.
CAES alumni Chelsea and Chandler Drumgoole, who graduated in May with degrees in animal science, are the first twins to enroll in the same class at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
The CVM recently featured the twins in a web profile. The Drumgooles, alumni of A&T’s University Honors Program, spoke about how they have supported each other’s success.
“It wasn’t so much that if he gets a 98, I had to get a 99,” said Chelsea, an alumna of the Dowdy Scholars Program. “It was always just … if he’s trying so hard, I’m trying hard, too. We’ve pushed each other in the best ways.”
Landscape architecture students participate in Harvard summer program
Four students in the landscape architecture program participated in Harvard University’s Design Discovery Week 2019, a six-week summer program held at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Students Tyron Alford, Essence Holmes, Danielle Freeman-Jefferson and Keith Poole received one-on-one guidance from instructors, training sessions in graphics and related skills, held group discussions and reviews, and made individual presentations to instructors and guest professionals.
The program requires students to work on short, intensive projects, similar to first-year graduate school projects, that would positively benefit the community.
Sophomore Danielle Freeman-Jefferson said that she enjoyed the experience. She chose to develop her project at a housing project in Cambridge that was between a community center and an elementary school, designing an urban garden and green space for the residents.
“I learned how important it is to interact with the community so that you can design with them in mind,” she said. “Your design has to be of use to the people you’re building for.”
All costs for the students were covered by John Aslanian, director of recruitment, student affairs, and career development for the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and Mohammed Ahmedna, Ph.D., dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Design.
Buckley Report covers Isikhuemhen’s mushroom research
The mushroom research of Omon Isikhuemhen, Ph.D., was featured on the Buckley Report on Triad FOX affiliate WGHP on Oct. 25.
Isikhuemhen, a professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, has developed a process to accelerate the production of truffles on pecan and evergreen trees. Truffles, the fruiting body of an underground fungus, are highly sought after by chefs and can sell for hundreds of dollars a pound.
He is also researching the use of mushrooms in animal feed as an alternative to antibiotics.
Cooperative Extension county staff win awards
James Hartsfield AND NELSON BROWNLEE
James Hartsfield, Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Extension agent for Duplin and Sampson Counties, and Nelson Brownlee, ANR Extension agent for Robeson and Bladen Counties, were national finalists for the Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.
Shelina Bonner
Shelina Bonner, Greene County’s Family & Consumer Sciences Extension agent, won the second place communications award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for the Nutrition Matters column in the Greene County Senior Center newsletter each month. Shelina also received a second-place award for community partnership. Greene County Cooperative Extension has partnered with local agencies to offer the 2nd Annual Community Diabetes Walk to improve the quality of life through increased physical activity for Greene County citizens.
Shameca Battle
Shameca Battle, Guilford County’s Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension agent, received the Dean Don Felker Financial Management award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for teaching limited-resource families and communities about financial literacy. She is committed to working with local organizations to raise awareness about to the struggles families may have with budgeting.
Hayley Cowell
Hayley Cowell, a Stanly County FCS Extension agent, received the SNAP-ED/EFNEP Educational Program Award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for the multi-session nutrition program and body walk exhibit to youth since 2015. Her efforts have contributed to the growth and success of this SNAP-Ed program.
Stacie Kinlaw
Stacie Kinlaw, a Bladen County 4-H Extension agent, received the Communicator Award for her submitted NEWS Story from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Association. Communicator Awards recognize NAE4-HA members for significant accomplishments in presenting 4-H to the general public, civic groups, 4-H groups, or individuals through public information methods. Kinlaw also received one of the association’s Achievement in Service Award. These awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of 4-H Youth Development Professionals doing 4-H work in North Carolina.
Pork industry leaders visit A&T
Brady Stewart and Andy Curliss joined the CAES for a tour of the Swine Unit at the University Farm.
Brady Stewart, executive vice president of U.S. hog production for Smithfield Foods, and Andy Curliss, chief executive officer of the North Carolina Pork Council, visited campus to meet with CAES leaders and students.
The goal of the visit, which included a tour of the University Farm’s Swine Unit, was to establish a win-win partnership with the college in the areas of research, training and community engagement.
Aggie experts participate in Sunbelt Ag Expo
Agricultural leaders, including Associate Dean for Research Shirley Hymon-Parker and CAES Advisory Board Member Jimmy Gentry, cut the ribbon for the North Carolina exhibit at the Sunbelt Ag Expo.
Several CAES professionals shared their expertise at the annual Sunbelt Ag Expo, held Oct. 15-17 in Moultrie, Georgia. The expo is known as “North America’s Premier Farm Show” with more than 1,200 exhibitors showcasing the latest in farming technology.
Animal Science Specialist Emily Cope, Ph.D.; Hemp Research Specialist John Ivey; 4-H STEM Extension Associate Semaj Johnson; and AgrAbility Project Manager Betty Rodriguez represented the college and university at the event. Johnson gave tours of Innovation Station, the mobile STEM lab and makerspace of Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T.
The ribbon-cutting for the North Carolina exhibit was held Oct. 15 and was attended by N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler; Associate Dean and Extension Administrator Rosalind Dale, Ed.D.; Associate Dean for Research Shirley Hymon-Parker, Ph.D.; and Associate Extension Administrator Claudette Smith, Ph.D. Troxler and Hymon-Parker were among the speakers at the ceremony.
Grassroots Forum brings local organizations, citizens together
Citizens network and collaborate at the 2019 Grassroots Leadership Conference in Kannapolis.
More than 100 civic leaders, community volunteers, Extension users, farm and business owners, elected officials, youth and families learned strategies for dealing with real-world issues at the 2019 Grassroots Leadership Conference, sponsored by Cooperative Extension at A&T, in partnership with its Strategic Planning Council.
The day-long conference, held Oct. 9 at City Hall in Kannapolis, focused on the theme “Shaping the Future of Communities Through Conversations that Matter.”
Keynote and breakout sessions dealt with health equity, opioid-prevention education, the social and physical resilience of flood-prone communities, and ways to connect public dialogue to action and change. The annual event was open to the public.
Faculty, staff and students Adopt-A-Pot
Thirty-six faculty, staff and students adopted pots on Oct. 9, during a program offered by Reid Greenhouse to demonstrate food production in a small-scale urban setting and to encourage people to try growing their own food.
Adopt-A-Pot began in 2015 with 24 pots and is offered twice a year, during the fall and the spring semesters. Seedlings of lettuce and greens such as mustard, kale and Swiss chard were provided during the Oct. 9 event. Watering is done by students working at Reid Greenhouse/Urban Food Platform. Participants harvest their produce throughout the semester.
Reid Greenhouse Director Odile Huchette encouraged members of the campus community to participate in the spring.
“Come plant and enjoy your own greens,” she said. “This is open to everyone, and we have loyal members from all over the campus!”
Extension engages youth in computer science
Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T trained nearly 50 4-H agents across the state to implement the National Youth Science Day Activity, Game Changers.
Designed by Google and West Virginia Extension service, Game Changers teaches kids ages 8-14 how to use computer science (CS) to create games, solve problems and engage with topics they’re passionate about.
Published Articles
Azahrani M., Ananey-Obiri, D., Matthews L., & Tahergorabi R. (2019). Development of low-fat fried fish using a two-prong strategy. CyTA-Journal of Food. 17(1), 882 – 891.
