18 minute read
Bloom Where You Are Planted
Success stories from the College of Agriculture
Professor earns honors for work in organic farming
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Dr. Dilip Nandwani, a professor who specializes in organic farming and its progressive practices, has been honored for his research and work at the College.
Dr. Nandwani’s work on “Vertical Farming Systems” was selected for the 2020 NUEL 1890 Program Innovator Award by the National Urban Extension Leaders. Dr. Nandwani presented his work and its impact on the local community at the Southern Region NUEL Network Virtual Hangout and Awards last August.
In addition, Dr. Nandwani was named 2020 Outstanding International Horticulturist by the American Society for Horticultural Science.
The pandemic nor the tornado halted Dr. Nandwani’s research in the organic portion of the Agricultural Research and Education Center. He continued to work with his graduate students planting cantaloupes and watermelons during the summer.
Dr. Nandwani has been at the College of Agriculture since 2014. Since then, he has written and published four books on organic farming, urban horticulture, sustainable horticultural systems, and genetic diversity in horticultural plants. He currently teaches the classes Principles of Organic Agriculture, Sustainable Crop Production, and Principles of Crop Science.
Dr. Dilip Nandwani talks to the public about organic farming during the Small Farm Expo.
Photo by Joan Kite
Early Learning Center thrives despite virus
The Tennessee State University Early Learning Center Laboratory, an on-campus daycare for the community, opened on its regular schedule adding this year the practice of social distancing while following all the recommended precautions to keep children safe, said Director Akela Barnett.
It was important to continue to provide the engaging, comprehensive, researchbased curriculum that allow children to explore and burst forth in their most natural habitat through play-based learning and sensory discovery, Barnett said. “We realize during these unprecedented times, families were seeking the best, safe,
LEARNING, Continued on page 45
Children learn about numbers in one of the many group activities at the Early Learning Center.
Dr. Emmanuel Omondi
Dr. Sonali Roy
Ag Professors bring hemp, legume expertise to campus
Two new faculty members join the College this year bringing with them expertise about molecular genetics in legumes and industrial hemp crop production.
Dr. Emmanuel C. Omondi brings with him extensive experience in the industrial hemp industry.
He served as principal investigator on a USDA and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative between the Rodale Institute and Purdue University to assess industrial hemp as a potential crop for organic farmers.
Originally from Kenya, Africa, Dr. Omondi’s quest for knowledge brought him to the University of Wyoming, where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in Agronomy.
He has taught both here in the United States and coordinated and taught study abroad courses in Kenya for the University of Wyoming.
Dr. Sonali Roy, a native of India, earned her doctoral degree at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, a city about 100 miles northeast of London, England.
A post-doctoral fellowship offered by the National Science Foundation brought her to the Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma, where she has been conducting genome-wide analyses of small signaling peptides in Medicago truncatula with an emphasis on macro-nutrient regulation of root and nodule development.
Aside from being a scientist and an educator, Dr. Roy is a talented communicator having served as an assistant features editor for The Plant Cell and engaging in scientific outreach through Twitter as @MedicagoNews, where she provides online information about Medicago research.
Both professors are setting in to their new labs and offices and will soon be in a classroom teaching students in the TSU College of Agriculture.
LEARNING, Continued from page 44
and healthy early education and childcare possible for their children,” Barnett said. The ELC Laboratory continues to serve its stakeholders with excellence by practicing extra safety precautions during drop-off and pick-up times and throughout the day. The health and safety of the children continues to be the Center’s highest priority.
Located in the Department of Human Sciences, the TSU Early Learning Center Laboratory provides experiential and educational opportunities for students in Human Sciences courses and student teachers throughout the year.
The ELC laboratory is committed to providing the best childcare and individualized early learning experience for children ages 3 to 5-years-old and offers affordable, full-time educational childcare for TSU faculty, staff, and families within the Nashville community. The Center passed the annual TN Department of Human Services licensure and classroom assessment review in October.
Under Barnett’s leadership, the center was awarded more than $16,000 from a Childcare Tennessee grant to support enrichment programs starting in Spring of 2021. It was also awarded a Support and Enhancement grant to support a new lending library.
Story time for the young participants in the Early Learning Center.
Bloom where you are planted
Success stories from the College of Agriculture
Grad student earns AAI Young Investigator Award
The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) presented TSU graduate student Jordan Jennings with the AAI Young Investigator Award at the International Veterinary Immunology Symposium this summer in Seattle, Washington.
Jennings, 26, of Florence, Alabama was recognized for his work in viral immunology using pig cells. With guidance from Dr. Yongming Sang, a TSU associate professor of animal genomics and immunology, Jennings published results from his research project “Porcine Interfero-ω Subtype: Differential Expression and Superior Antiviral Activity.”
“We infect the cell lines with a particular virus and let the virus cause a viral infection,” Jennings said. Jennings then studies the pig’s immune response to the virus.
“The virus is the number one cause of swine industry loss,” he said.
Jennings, who will graduate in May of 2020, said he ultimately wants to work in the biomedical field conducting research.
“In high school, I thought I wanted to go to med school or do research. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology. I took a job in a hospital and realized it was not for me.”
Jennings speaks highly of his mentor, Dr. Sang.
“I met with him and looked at the lab. He’s easy to talk to, very approachable, easy to ask questions,” Jennings said.
Jordan Jennings
Sharon Suggs joins Dept. of Human Sciences full time
Longtime adjunct TSU professor Sharon Suggs has joined the faculty of the Department of Human Sciences full time bringing with her years of experience in nutrition and food systems management.
Suggs served as a field manager for the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, where she monitored and evaluated cafeteria programs by reviewing the cafeterias, food quality, and sanitation. She also ensured reports and records complied with state regulations.
She also has hands-on experience managing fast food restaurants including McDonald’s, Hardees, and New Orleans Famous Fried Chicken.
“Teaching is more than a profession,” Suggs said. “It’s a willingness to share, listen and learn from others. I trust and hope students will see me first as a person who cares, furthermore, a person that wants to share the importance of education, communication, and opportunities. There is no limitation in what they can achieve, for they have already taken the first step by coming to TSU.”
“And together we (the faculty and staff) will prepare them for many more,” she said.
Sharon Suggs
Professor wins 2019 Tony Kleese Award from The People’s Seed
Matthew Blair
The People’s Seed, a new organization whose mission is to redesign funding and decision making systems for seed and plant development, has awarded Research Associate Professor Dr. Matthew Blair with the 2019 Tony Kleese Award.
Dr. Blair, who is often referred to as the “Bean Man” on campus, is a plant breeder ad molecular geneticist who researches amaranth, cow peas (black-eyed peas), common and mung beans.
The Tony Kleese Award includes a cash award of $2,000.
“The board was absolutely impressed with the scope and focus of your work as it pertains to our mission of creating a fair, open and sustainability-focused seed and plant breeding system for all,” Jacob Rutz, executive director of The People’s Seed, wrote.
“I wish to express my sincere thanks,” Blair said. “The prize award will serve to increase awareness about the importance of new crops and new varieties and I commit to that goal together with The People’s Seed.”
Dr. Blair earned his Ph.D. in plant breeding at Cornell University. He has been at TSU since June of 2013.
You can learn more about The People’s Seed at thepeopleseed.org.
Left: Monica HenrySmith works in the Public Health Microbiology Laboratory. Below: Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of the College, presents Monica Henry-Smith with the Outstanding Master’s Student Award as she holds her infant son.
Photos by Joan Kite
Outstanding student gains internship with Tennessee Dept. of Ag
Monica Henry-Smith, one of the College’s Outstanding Master’s Student specializing in public health microbiology, has earned an internship with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Henry-Smith, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Food Science at Alabama A&M, has been working with Assistant Professor Dr. Aliyar Fouladkhah at TSU. She is now preparing for the Medical Laboratory Technician certification exam and is
interested in examining new food safety procedures to implement for the state.
“The foods that we consume determine the lifestyle that we live, as well as the environment that we are in, which influences what we eat. Food science and public health go hand-in-hand with our everyday lives,” Henry-Smith said.
Henry-Smith has placed first in a poster presentation competition at the second annual meeting of the Tennessee Institute of Food Technologists in Nashville. She also took first place in the 2018 Tennessee Academy of Science Oral competitions and has already published one first-name, peerreviewed article in the open access journal titled “Microorganisms.”
During her studies, Henry-Smith gave birth to her son and despite being a new mom, she was able to attend classes regularly.
Monica Henry Smith Outstanding Master’s Student
Bloom where you are planted
Success stories from the College of Agriculture
Students intern to learn and earn
One of the hallmarks of pursuing agriculture studies at Tennessee State University is the opportunity to apply the knowledge one is acquiring in the actual workforce. Students have the opportunity to begin internships as early as their first year in the College of Agriculture and faculty and staff encourage them to continue to pursue them until they enter the workforce. Below is a list of students and the internships they pursued.
Daiva Wilson United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service Colchester, Vermont
Alyssa Hobbs HCA Healthcare
Parallon Intern Nashville, Tennessee
Braxton Simpson Bayer Crop Sciences
Customer Care/Crop Protection St. Louis, Missouri
Akiliyah Sumlin Farm Credit Mid-America
Agricultural Intern Lexington, Kentucky
Waymon McNeal United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service Appleton, Wisconsin
Kristen Day United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service Caldwell, Texas
Kayla Carney Dupont Environmental Education Center
Delaware Nature Society Wilmington, Deleware
Jourdan Huntley Purdue University
Vet-Up Student Intern West Lafayette, Indiana
Kennedye Miller Purdue University
Vet-Up Student Intern West Lafayette, Indiana
Jonathan Alford Mammoth Cave National Park
Park Intern - Algae Technician Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Adriana Martin United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service Paw Paw, Michigan
Alexis Askew Tennessee State University
College of Agriculture Research Intern Nashville, Tennessee
Jahnari Edwards Tennessee Lottery
Sales Intern - Scientific Games Nashville, Tennessee
Ryan Smith Kellogg
Procurement Intern Battle Creek, Michigan
Rodney Blackwell United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service Williamsburg, Iowa
Morgan Finley University of Alabama
Dietetic Internship Birmingham, Alabama
Rana Hantouli University of Tennessee at Martin
Dietetic Internship Martin, Tennessee
Casmen Jackson University of Tennessee Extension
Extension Intern
Grayson Ross Oakwood University
Dietetic Internship Huntsville, Alabama
Takeya Ball Capitol Area Food Bank
Washington, D.C.
TeeSharia Jackson Summer Apprenticeship Program
Tennessee State University College of Agriculture Nashville, Tennessee
INTERNSHIPS, Continued page 45
Honor Roll
Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference, Kansas City, KS Amaris Daniels Kristin Day Jahnari Edwards Kalie Ellis Braxton Simpson Ryan Smith Akiliyah Sumlin Emmanuel Wallace Emoni White Agriculture Future of America Food Institute, Chicago, IL Jahnari Edwards Ryan Smith
Agriculture Future of America Technology Institute, Orlando, FL Jahnari Edwards Daiva Wilson
Agriculture Future of America Policy Institute, Washington, DC Jahnari Edwards Braxton Simpson Ryan Smith Daiva Wilson
Agriculture Future of America Animal Institute, Kansas City, KS Jourdon Huntley
1890 Environmental Justice Academy Scholar Kristin Day
Agriculture Future of America and BASF Scholarship ($1600) Amaris Daniels Braxton Simpson
Purdue University Graduate Diversity Scholars Program CheKenna Fletcher Micah Blake-Smith James E. Tatum Scholarship – National Organization of Professional Black NRCS Employees Akiliyah Sumlin
1890 Costa Rica Study Abroad Fellows Brittaney Hogan Steve Osborne Kristen Stigger Daiva Wilson
Tennessee Council of Cooperatives Scholarship Aniya Bryant Kalie Ellies Nakana Morton
Farm Credit College Leaders Program and Scholarship ($5,000) Braxton Simpson
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Kristin Day, University Ambassador Ryan Smith, Altria Scholar
Monsanto Scholarship & J.P. Morgan Scholar Braxton Simpson
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. International Membership Intake Process Committee Member Braxton Simpson
National Teach Ag Campaign Future Agriscience Teacher Fellow Shasta Charlton
Student Government Association 2019-2020 Academic Year Ryan Smith, Executive Vice President
INTERNSHIPS, Continued from page 44 Adam Traore Summer Apprenticeship Program
Tennessee State University College of Agriculture Nashville, Tennessee
Emily Boone University of Wyoming
4-H Intern Grey Bull County Wyoming
Daniel Shaw Cheekwood Botanical Garden
Agricultural Intern Nashville, Tennessee
Alexius Dingle Mammoth Cave National Park
Park Intern - Algae Technician Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Jacqueline Johnson Tennessee State University
Drone Youth Program Internship Nashville, Tennessee
Taylor Pikes Tennessee State University
Drone Youth Program Internship Nashville, Tennessee
Kalie Ellis Tennessee State University
Drone Youth Program Internship Nashville, Tennessee
Ashley Warner Tennessee State University Extension
Shelby County Memphis, Tennessee
TSU AGRICULTURE ALUMNI ORGANIZATION’S PURPOSE
The purpose of the TSU Agriculture Alumni Organization shall be: • to create and maintain high standards in the life of our alumni; • to perpetuate constructive alumni relationships; • to support recruiting efforts to obtain more high quality students in the Food and Agricultural Sciences; • to assist Agriculture students financially in areas where there may be a shortage of funds that may cause one to drop out of school; • to address, coordinate, and develop action strategies on matters of mutual concern to the membership; and • to serve as the conduit for such action plans as may be developed.
ALUMNI, From page 8
sumer sciences,” Jackson said.
The organization has named officers and a meeting is being planned for the near future, Reaves said.
More than 25 years ago years at a meeting of the National Organization of Professional Black Soil Conservation Service Employees, now known as the Natural Resource Conservation Service Employees (NOPBNRCSE), a large number of alumni from TSU’s College of Agriculture attended a discussion that resulted in the formation of the Agriculture Alumni Organization.
During the discussion, alumni recognized that there was a need to coordinate and cooperate in several activities, and identified certain areas of need that could be best realized by a formal organization.
“We are encouraging all agriculture alumni to join us as we update our purpose and make plans to assist the College of Agriculture and the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with its activities,” Hayslett said. “One of the many things we would like is to have an official representative from the alumni organization serving on the recently
College of Agriculture alumni help themselves to eggs, potatoes, pancakes, fruit and other
breakfast fare. Photo by Dr. Dharma Pitchay
For more information, please contact President Hugh Jackson at (615) 243-2808 or email him at retiredtwo@comcast.net.
WICKED, From page 28
searching for the remnants of Professor Bill Sutton’s canoe, which he used to traverse the wetlands along the Cumberland River. Williams said he thinks he found a piece of it. Sutton has accepted that his canoe got sucked up by the tornado. Amidst the disaster, there is some frivolity. But the seriousness of the tornado has university officials revising plans in the event of another. “Looking at the debris makes you wonder where we would’ve taken cover if this tornado had occurred during regular working hours,” Byl said. “Cinder block buildings were torn down, while a nearby trailer or shed were left standing. Debris would have been flying through the air as evidenced by the metal siding thrown all over the place. It’s hard to conceive what the cost to human life would’ve been if it had happened at 10 a.m.” “We were lucky.”
VET, From page 4
dean of TSU’s College of Agriculture. Dr. Reddy was instrumental in finalizing the agreement. “It will help increase minorities in the veterinary profession and help us prepare our students appropriately for veterinary college. Health care for pets is a huge demand in society today. Many of our students are interested in the veterinary profession and we welcome this opportunity to prepare and place students in this competitive and demanding field.” The agreement between the universities began in 2016 when Dr. Jones, a UT-CVM professor of Avian and Zoological Medicine, came to TSU to speak to agriculture students in the student organization Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS). Dr. James P. Thompson, the dean of UT-CVM, sent Dr. Jones with the mission to form an agreement with TSU to recruit its students into UT’s vet college. There, Dr. Jones met Dr. De’Etra Young, the MANRRS advisor who works closely with TSU’s top students. For the next four years, Dr. Jones and Dr. Young worked on the MOU, which was signed in June of 2020. “We are excited to enter this new partnership with UT-CVM,” said Dr. Young, who is now interim associate dean of Academics and Land-grant Programs at the College. “We are increasing our efforts to provide experiential learning and hands-on experiences to prepare our students for graduate studies or the workforce. This new arrangement will assist us in preparing our students appropriately for veterinary school.” Assistant Professor Dr. Carollyn Boykins-Winrow teaches animal science classes at TSU and she said she will be serving as mentor to the students selected for the program. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the students,” Dr. Boykins-Winrow said. “The students will know what to expect from UT and UT will know the preparation the students went through to get there.” Settling into her dorm room on TSU’s campus is aspiring veterinarian Angelique Hamilton. She knows very little about the new program, but she knows she wants in. And when Hamilton wants something, she tends to get it. In middle school, her grades weren’t so great, she said. So, she buckled down and graduated this year as valedictorian from Trezevant High School in Memphis. “I hate it when I get a B,” Hamilton said. “I will go to the teacher and ask if there is anything I can do to bring my grade up.” Pursuing her dreams comes at a price. Hamilton said she has had to leave behind her dog of 10 years — a Chihuahua-mix named Echo. Dogs are not allowed in the dorms. But Hamilton brings to campus a determination and cando spirit necessary for TSU’s and UT-CVM Veterinary Professional Enhancement Program. For more information about the program, contact Dr. Young at (615) 963-5123 or email dyoung23@ tnstate.edu.
TSU Junior Emmanuel Wallace bottle feeds a young goat at the College’s Agricultural Research and Education Center. Wallace is an agriculture major concentrating on Food and Animal Sciences with a Pre-Vet focus. Photo courtesy of Emmanuel Wallace
www.tnstate.edu/agriculture Awarding financial support to outstanding students.
B.S. in Agricultural Sciences
• Agribusiness • Agricultural Leadership,
Education & Communications • Biotechnology • Environmental Sciences • Food and Animal Sciences
B.S. in Family & Consumer Sciences
• Child Development & Family
Studies • Fashion Merchandising • Food and Nutritional Sciences *Dietetics * Food Systems Management
M.S. in Environmental Sciences
M.S. in Food and Animal Sciences M.S. in Agricultural Sciences
• Agribusiness Management & Analysis • Agricultural Education • Biotechnology • Food Supply Chain Management
Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
• Environmental Sciences • Biotechnology • Food and Animal Sciences • Cell and Molecular Biology
Dean’s Scholars
Awards, ranging from $2,600 to $3,900 per semester, are paid annually and presented to students who demonstrate academic excellence.
High Achievers
Designed for community college graduates, this program assists students through a personalized work-aid/ internship program.
Leadership Fellows
A unique program tailored to students who actively participate in student chapters of professional agricultural, family or human science organizations.
Graduate Research Assistantships also available
Contact Outreach Counselor Keisha Macklin at (615) 963-6520 or email kmacklin@tnstate.edu
