The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) named 20 faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Hispanic-Serving School Districts around the nation as new E. Kika De La Garza Fellows.
The E. Kika De La Garza Education, High School, and Science Fellows have spent one week meeting with a host of leaders from different USDA agencies in the Washington, D.C. area, where they can interact directly on national and regional issues, policy making, and research. Following that session, the Fellows are spending an additional week collaborating with top scientists from USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) or the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Soil Survey Center in Lincoln, Neb.
"These fellowships provide a unique professional development experience and exposure that benefits young people and helps advance the Biden-Harris administration's goal of increasing equity for underserved communities across all of rural America," said Dr. Lisa R. Ramírez, director of USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. "After the E. Kika De La Garza fellows meet with USDA leaders, they gain insights, perspectives, knowledge and collaboration opportunities to share with students and colleagues in their home institutions and communities."
The E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program links USDA and Hispanic-Serving Institutions to help build awareness in Hispanic communities of USDA services, resources, and employment opportunities. Since 1998, these annual fellowships have recognized highly accomplished staff and faculty at HSIs, which are accredited and degree-granting institutions of higher education with a full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more. The program also includes faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving School Districts, which are K-12 school districts with Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more.
The 2022 E. Kika De La Garza Education Fellows are:
Yeon-Su Kim - Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Breanna Watkins - University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Marisol Ruiz - Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, Calif.
Elizabeth G. Mosqueda - Madera Community College, Madera, Calif.
Alice Baldridge - St. Mary's College of CA, Moraga, Calif.
Jacob Vazquez - Butte College, Oroville, Calif.
Nadia Campbell - San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif.
Beatriz Camargo - Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Pamela Sedillo - University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
Ivelisse Irizarry Caraballo - Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
David De Sousa - Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Rafael E. Martinez - Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas
Sandya R. Kesoju - Columbia Basin College, Pasco, Wash.
The 2022 E. Kika De La Garza High School Education Fellows are:
Juanita García Aviles - Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Chicago, Ill.
Silvia Saldivar - Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD / Berta Palacios Elem., Pharr, Texas
The 2022 E. Kika De La Garza Science Fellows are:
Alok Arun - Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Barranquitas Campus, Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
Guillermo Marcillo - West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
Elinor Lichtenberg - University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Engil Pereira - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas
Claire M. Carpenter - Yakima Valley College, Yakima, Wash.
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