SAFHS Highlights - January 2018

Uni ve rs i t y of A r ka n sa s a t P i n e B l u ff – S c hool of Agr i c u l t u re, F i sh e r ies a n d Hu m a n S c ie n c es

January 2018

Upcoming Events March 9 62nd Annual Rural Life Conference The 62nd Rural Life Conference will be Friday, March 9, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza in Pine Bluff. The conference begins with registration at 7:30 a.m.; the opening session is at 8:45 a.m.

The conference theme is “Innovations for Farms, Families and Communities in Changing Times.”

Sponsored by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences, this year’s conference features several workshops, a poster session highlighting research projects and exhibits by governmental and community agencies.

Registration is requested of everyone even though the conference is free to producers, homemakers and retirees. Early-bird registration for professionals and agency personnel is $50; $75 after Feb. 23. To preregister, if you have special needs or for more information, contact Margaret L. Taylor at 870-5757144/8535 or taylorml@uapb.edu.

May 12 Spring Commencement

Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan Named Interim Dean/Director of Research, Extension Programs

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r. Muthusamy Manoharan has been named interim dean/director of 1890 research and Extension programs for SAFHS. In this position, Dr. Manoharan will provide leadership for three academic departments as well as research and outreach programs in the School. For the past two years, he served as interim assistant dean for research and Extension for SAFHS. From 2013-2015, Dr. Manoharan served as director of UAPB’s Regulatory Science Center of Excellence. Prior to that position, he served as graduate coordinator for the master’s program in agricultural regulations and led active biotechnology research in the Department of Agriculture.

Dr. Manoharan led UAPB’s Sweet Potato Foundation Seed Program’s efforts that gained its recognition by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as one of seven national centers in the National Clean Plant Network for sweet potatoes.

Since coming to the university, he has successfully collaborated with other researchers nationally and regionally that resulted in $16 million in research and teaching grants. He has hosted a Norman Borlaug scholar from Bangladesh and scientists from South Africa, Nigeria and Guyana for training in biotechnology and genomics. Dr. Manoharan has published a number of peer-reviewed articles and supervised five master’s theses. He has served on the thesis committee for a number of master’s students at UAPB. He also served on Ph.D. committees in India and is now serving in Guyana. He is a member of the Society for In Vitro Biology, the American Society of Plant Biologists and the Honor Society of Agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta.

Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan

A native of Tamilnadu, India, Dr. Manoharan has a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of Madras, Madras, India, a master’s degree in botany from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India, and a doctoral degree in botany from Karnatak University, Dharwad, India. He was a post-doctoral research fellow in biotechnology at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea; and North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota.

“I’m excited about having the opportunity to serve as interim dean/director of the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences,” Dr. Manoharan said.

“We have strong departments that have developed outstanding teaching, research, outreach and Extension programs.”

Dr. Manoharan replaces Dr. Edmund Buckner who has taken a position with Alcorn University. He is married to Mekala and has one child, Ragul.

New Faculty Dr. Alice J. Ajanga has been appointed assistant professor of human sciences for UAPB. In this role she will teach courses in human development and family studies, focusing on areas such as child development, parenting education and administration and supervision of childcare centers.

Teresa Henson has been appointed Extension specialist II – nutrition outreach coordinator for UAPB’s 1890 Cooperative Extension Program.

In this role she will provide overall coordination and leadership in planning, developing and implementing the university’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program operations.

Dr. Sankar Devarajan has been appointed assistant professor in nutrition and food science for the UAPB Department of Human Sciences. He will teach undergraduate courses

in experimental foods, food chain safety, food microbiology, food processing and food policy and law.

Dr. Ranjitsinh Mane has been appointed assistant professor of agricultural and consumer economics for the UAPB Department of Agriculture. In this position, he will teach graduate and undergraduate courses on topics including principles of agricultural economics, agricultural finance, consumer economics and agricultural cooperatives.

Dr. Dayan Perera has been appointed Extension aquaculture specialist for the UAPB Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries. In this position he will develop a research and Extension program in baitfish and sportfish aquaculture, author peer-reviewed research and Extension publications and teach graduate and undergraduate courses.

Dr. Jayant Lohakare has been appointed associate professor of animal science for the UAPB Department of Agriculture.

In this position he will teach undergraduate and graduate courses on subjects including animal science, poultry science, livestock production, animal nutrition, animal health issues and epidemiology.

Dr. Yasser M. Sanad has been appointed assistant professor of food science and food safety for the UAPB Department of Agriculture. In this position he will teach undergraduate and graduate courses on topics including food safety, food microbiology, epidemiology and risk analysis.

Degrees Awarded to 30 SAFHS Students

Thirty degrees were awarded to SAFHS students at UAPB’s 157th commencement in December 2017. SAFHS graduates received degrees in several areas. One earned a Ph.D. in aquaculture and fisheries and two earned a Master of Science degree in aquaculture and fisheries. Two earned undergraduate degrees in agriculture/animal science; three in agriculture/plant science-agronomy; one in agricultural business; 16 in human sciences/human development and family studies; three in human sciences/merchandising, textiles and design; and two in human sciences/food service.

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SAFHS Highlights

Alumni Spotlight — Kalisha Hall hemes of self-identity are at the heart of the fashion designs produced by K. RaShaé, the luxury women's wear fashion brand founded in New York City by Kalisha Hall, a 2011 alumna of UAPB. The company’s product line, which includes a diverse range of garments that emphasize texture, volume and bold patterns, asserts confidence, determination and individuality.

“I call it ‘purpose-driven design,’” said Hall. “The inspiration for the garments I create comes from an emotional standpoint and a desire to help others, especially women and young girls. I want to inspire other women to have a positive outlook on themselves and the accomplishments they are capable of achieving.”

Hall said many of the themes of her work arose from her own experiences in overcoming personal boundaries and reaching for new opportunities, which eventually led her from her hometown of Pine Bluff, Arkansas to New York City. After developing an interest in clothes and fashion at an early age, her true journey began when she decided to major in fashion merchandising at UAPB. “Though I have always loved redesigning outfits and playing with clothes, I assumed I would eventually seek a career as a fashion buyer because I lacked the background in the creative aspects of fashion design,” she said.

“However, I took a class in sewing and design during my senior year that I absolutely loved. My advisor, Kalari Turner, who was then an instructor of merchandising, textiles and design, said I should seriously consider redirecting my focus toward the creative and design aspects of fashion rather than the business side of the industry.”

After graduation, Hall was hired as a sales representative at Fashion Industry Gallery in Dallas, Texas. Though her job was primarily sales-focused, she used her creative talents to piece together garments in original combinations during presentations with buyers. When Hall’s manager noticed her knack for innovation, she encouraged her to go back to school to hone her natural design skills, and suggested that she apply to institutions in New York City.

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Acting on the encouragement, Hall applied to Parsons School of Design, a private art and design college located in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. When she received a letter of acceptance and a scholarship to major in fashion design, she knew she had to take the chance of a lifetime.

“At first it was intimidating to move to New York,” she said. “I wondered what the experience would be like, considering my upbringing in a small town and the fact that I would speak a bit differently from everyone else in the classroom.”

Hall quickly realized there was no time to worry about apprehensions, as she became absorbed by the college’s fast-paced, demanding schedule. In addition to regular coursework, she interned at House of Z, the women’s apparel company owned by designer Zac Posen.

After graduating with honors, Hall sought hands-on experience at a startup bridal company to complement her experience as an intern at a large company.

Hall was hired in her first salaried position in the digital visual merchandising department for the menswear company JackThreads. Later, however, she was incidentally part of a layoff following the hire of a new creative director. The setback turned out to be the push Hall needed to refocus the direction of her career.

“The tragedy of losing my job turned into a blessing when I started using the connections I had made over the years to figure out how to start my own fashion brand,” she said. “Contrary to what one might think about New York stereotypes, my colleagues were always gracious in offering their support, resources and advice as I set out to start my own company.”

Hall said things quickly went into full throttle as she started building a folder of contacts and setting up appointments with fabric vendors. Seamstresses she had formerly worked with helped sew some of her original designs, while her fiancé, Terrance Price, used his career experience in advertising to help her create a logo and branding, as well as a portfolio of stylish promotional materials.

Kalisha Hall

After months of hard work, K. RaShaé was officially founded. Since its inception, the company has released two product lines that embrace the motto “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made,” which is meant to encourage women to embrace their individuality.

Hall’s designs have been featured in Sports Illustrated, CBS Watch Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, California Apparel News, LA Travel Magazine and Fashion 360 Magazine. Some of her garments were also recently featured in the Fox musical television series “Star.” In March 2017, she presented her most recent fashion collection at Paris Fashion Week after receiving an invitation from the Oxford Fashion Studio.

When she is not crunching sales numbers and marketing new designs to retailers, Hall enjoys focusing on the artistic parts of the job that allow her to express her creativity. She tries to share the joy she derives from creative expression by regularly speaking to groups of girls and young women at educational and church camps.

“I want to motivate other young women by letting them know they are capable of anything they put their mind to,” she said. “I tell them that you don’t have to look at your past or where you are from to judge where you are going.

We all have the ability to shape our destiny if we believe in ourselves.”

March 2017

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Students Reinforce Studies, Gain Work Experience at ASC Internships Amirical Allen, a senior major in merchandising, textiles and design (MTD) at UAPB, spent part of summer 2017 teaching local youth about textiles and LED lighting during an internship with the Arts and Science Center (ASC) for Southeast Arkansas. The majority of her duties centered on helping coordinate the ASC’s annual educational summer camps for children.

“I enjoyed teaching children the basic concepts of electronic circuits and showing them how to make interesting creations that glow,” Allen said. “The participants had a lot of fun learning how to weave with a needle and fabric, which is a skill I learned during my coursework at UAPB.” Morgan Green, a 2017 graduate of MTD, completed an internship with the ASC in her final semester at UAPB and continued to assist with the summer camps as a camp coordinator. The students’ internships were designed to reinforce their studies at UAPB by allowing them to gain experience teaching some of the concepts they learned in the classroom to local youth.

“My degree in merchandising, textiles and design intertwined with my internship by giving me the chance to express the importance of textiles and teaching innovative ways to design artwork,” Green said. “I enjoyed that I was able to be creative, while also giving back to the community.”

In her work as an intern at the ASC, Allen said she most appreciated the chance to help and have fun with the children. She enjoyed making bonds with the participants as she helped them complete different educational tasks.

Internships and other professional experiences are a very important part of the student learning process, Dr. Kaye Crippen, professor of the MTD department, said. While theoretical learning in the classroom is essential to academic success, college students also benefit from engaging learning activities in the

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SAFHS Highlights

Morgan Green, left, and Amirical Allen, right, both served as interns at the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas as part of their coursework for the UAPB merchandising, textiles and design program.

world of work. The responsibilities of an internship allow students to put knowledge gained in the classroom into practice, as well as meet professional expectations.

MTD students are required to gain six university credit hours – or 225 clock hours – at an internship to complete their degree. In the past, MTD students have pursued internships in Little Rock at clothing retailers such as The Buckle and for designers such as Romás

by Linda Rowe Thomas. Others have helped coordinate the annual Little Rock Fashion Week.

“Pine Bluff is relatively small, so students who look for an internship on their own often have to work hard to find one,” Dr. Crippen said. “However, the experience of taking the responsibility to find out what opportunities are available is very beneficial. Many MTD majors have discovered some really interesting opportunities that benefit their education and work experience.”

In coordinating MTD internships, Dr. Crippen said she prefers to build long-term relationships with community partners. This allows local companies or organizations to benefit from the young and creative talent at UAPB, while helping students gain invaluable work experience that will help them get

their foot in the door when applying for jobs after graduation.

Dr. Crippen said she sees the difference an internship makes in the scholastic and professional lives of her students.

The experience is often transformational as students learn about their individual strengths and start thinking more about their future.

“Internships can have a profound affect on students by giving them confidence in their ability to do good work, expose them to new ideas and opportunities and connect them to others in the community in a productive way,” she said.

Morgan Green, a 2017 graduate of MTD, completed an internship with the ASC in her final semester at UAPB and continued to assist with ASC summer camps as a camp coordinator.

UAPB Students Participate in Extension Project, Learn Agricultural Practices in Guyana

From left: Laura Wright, LaTaylor Rembert and Imani Coleman assisted in UAPB’s efforts to increase the availability of high-quality sweet potato planting materials to limited-resource farmers in Guyana.

Three sophomore agriculture students at UAPB spent part of the summer 2017 in the South American country of Guyana, where they learned about Guyanese agriculture and agricultural practices. During the program, Imani Coleman, an agronomy major, LaTaylor Rembert, an agriculture business major, and Laura Wright, an animal science major, were able to contribute to one of UAPB’s primary international Extension projects.

The students were directly involved in UAPB’s efforts to increase the availability of high-quality sweet potato planting materials to limited-resource farmers in Guyana through the establishment of a virus-indexing laboratory. Prior to their arrival in Guyana, the students were briefed on the project by representatives of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute in Guyana, UAPB’s primary partner institution in the project.

Once in the country, the students learned firsthand about how UAPB is breeding sweet potato plants with better resistance to common diseases and pests. These resilient lines of sweet potatoes are currently being distributed to small-scale farmers to help expand their operations and income.

“Participating in UAPB's project to increase the availability of high-quality sweet potatoes in Guyana alongside Dr. James O. Garner Jr., former dean/director of SAFHS, was a stupendous experience,” Rembert said. “It allowed me to learn about the different types of sweet potatoes in Guyana and share information about the processes undertaken at UAPB to ensure high-quality sweet potato crops.”

The students’ agenda included site visits to various agricultural agencies in Guyana including the Ministry of Agriculture, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

“Traveling to different agricultural sites and livestock farms was an enlightening experience,” Coleman said.

“I learned that different methods can be utilized to achieve a common goal.”

Wright said UAPB agriculture majors in particular should seriously consider enrolling in a study abroad trip to Guyana.

“Agriculture majors can benefit from seeing how agriculture functions in a middle-income country,” she said.

“They will also be able to get out of their comfort zones and see the world from another perspective.”

Dr. Rebecca Lochmann Recognized as Arkansas Research Alliance Fellow Dr. Rebecca Lochmann, interim chair of the UAPB Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, was recognized as one of five 2017 Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) Fellows.

The ARA Fellows program recognizes distinguished university research leaders in the Dr. Rebecca Lochmann state with an established history of impact.

At a press conference held at the Arkansas State Capitol in August 2017, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced the five ARA Fellows, each representing one of the five research universities in the state: UAPB, Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Each ARA Fellow was nominated by the chancellor of their affiliated university and will receive a $75,000 grant paid over three years.

“Dr. Lochmann is a leading scholar in the field of aquaculture,” UAPB Chancellor Dr. Laurence B. Alexander said. “I am so pleased to see Dr. Lochmann receive this well-deserved recognition. We are truly proud of her achievements and contributions in teaching, research and Extension, and we greatly appreciate her leadership to our Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries and the Aquaculture/ Fisheries Center of Excellence.”

The ARA grant Dr. Lochmann received will fund research projects related to the efficacy of alternative dietary protein and lipid sources, prebiotics and probiotics and other feed additives on the growth, health, product quality and reproductive performance of baitfish, catfish, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass and tilapia. UAPB assesses the cost-effectiveness of these ingredients to estimate the effects of diet manipulations on production profitability of these species.

“Throughout her career at UAPB, Dr. Lochmann’s emphasis on finding better and more economical fish rations has been of great value to fish farmers of all types across the state, region and even globally,” Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan, interim dean/director for SAFHS, said. “Her dedication to the success of the aquaculture industry in Arkansas is clearly demonstrated by her research results.”

March 2017

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Hannibal Bolton Receives American Fisheries Society Award for Promoting Diversity in Fisheries Hannibal Bolton, a 1971 UAPB alumnus, was recently awarded the Emmeline Moore Prize at the 2017 American Fisheries Society (AFS) annual meeting in Tampa, Florida.

The award recognizes the efforts of an individual society member who has demonstrated exemplary service to the cause of equal opportunity of access to higher education in fisheries and professional development in any of the disciplines of fisheries science or management. The award is named after Emmeline Moore, the first female president of the society, who served from 1927 to 1928.

A native of Crawfordsville, Arkansas, Bolton was the first member of his family to graduate from college when he received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from UAPB. In 1972, he started his 45-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

According to the AFS, Bolton recruited a generation of African-American professionals to leadership positions in the FWS. As president of the endowment fund for UAPB and adviser for the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, he recruited dozens of AfricanAmerican students into private, state and federal fisheries programs.

Douglas Austen, executive director of the AFS, said ensuring equal access to opportunities is a critical issue in the fisheries industry that reflects the challenges and opportunities of modern society. The profession should ensure that opportunities are available to everyone – regardless of ethnicity or gender – so

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SAFHS Highlights

Hannibal Bolton accepts the Emmeline Moore Prize from American Fisheries Society president Joe Margraf.

(Photo credit: American Fisheries Society)

that young people of all backgrounds can see themselves as fisheries, wildlife or natural resources professionals, he said.

“Hannibal was a role model in this effort because he rose to a high and very visible level in a key federal agency,” Austen said. “People respected him for his competency, professionalism, engaging personality and ability to show others of any background that they can be successful, make significant contributions, have a meaningful career and live a fulfilling life as a fisheries professional.”

Bolton is the third person associated with UAPB to receive the Emmeline Moore Prize. Dr. Mamie Parker, a UAPB alumna, received the award in 2016, and Dr. Steve Lochmann, professor of aquaculture and fisheries at UAPB, received it in 2013.

“I'm not aware of any one institution that has had so many winners of any AFS award,” Austen said. “This highlights UAPB's character as an institution that fully embraces the mission of being open and equally available to people of all backgrounds, which results in graduates who make a difference in all walks of life. UAPB takes people from all backgrounds and gives them the tools, training, moral character and support to be successful.”

Austen said the three award winners with ties to UAPB validate the argument that diversity – in addition to the fundamental moral obligation of equality – makes good business sense.

“These people have added tremendous value to the institutions that employed them and rose to be among the agencies’ leaders,” he said. “They were seen as people who made the agencies successful and were valued because of that ability. Their contributions help others knock down barriers, create new opportunities and encourage all institutions to work even more energetically to ensure their leaders, employees and partners embrace diversity as a core component of who they are now and in the future.”

Cochran Fellows from Central Asia Visit UAPB, Learn Soil Enrichment Techniques UAPB recently hosted a delegation of Cochran Fellows comprised of scientists, researchers, government officials and teachers from the countries of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The group was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service to participate in the UAPB program intended to impart sustainable agriculture practices related to soil health.

“The purpose of the two-week training program was to deliver multifaceted, comprehensive training on soil enrichment techniques and strategies, as well as sustainable agriculture practices in general,” Dr. Pamela Moore, associate dean for global engagement, Office of International Programs, said. “The instruction was intended to enable the Fellows to strengthen the agricultural sectors in their respective countries.”

Dr. Moore said the program was unique as it involved collaboration with the state offices of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for Arkansas and Texas, and featured a cultural program that introduced participants to the diversity of U.S. society. Extensive tours and site visits were conducted with producers, the agribusiness sector and research personnel in rural areas and communities, including locations near the Texas-Mexico border, where land conditions best approximate those in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Poor soil quality is a major issue for the agricultural sector in both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, she said. The difficulties producers face in these countries are compounded by high soil salinity.

In addition to the NRCS, UAPB also collaborated with the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Uvalde, Texas to conduct workshops and site visits that focused on soil enrichment techniques in arid conditions, small mechanization and the acquisition of appropriate technology. Other topics included irrigation and water management, erosion prevention and plant health in forest and pastureland.

Dr. Moore said program sessions at UAPB introduced participants to the U.S. land grant system and explained the working partnership between higher education, private producers and government agencies.

“UAPB presentations demonstrated how such a partnership strengthens teaching, research and Extension delivery on vital issues such as the improvement of soil enrichment and other sustainable agriculture practices,” she said. “This design illustrates that a system based on partnership, collaboration and the sharing of information is more effective and sustainable in the long run than isolated investments and strategies that fail to generate multiplier effects.”

Three Students Win ARD Symposium Awards

Jenat Rahman, Greyson Farris and Tiffanna Ross received awards at the 18th Biennial Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors in Atlanta.

Three SAFHS graduate students took awards at the 18th Biennial Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD) in Atlanta.

The conference provides opportunities for scientists and students from the nation’s 1890 land-grant universities to present research papers and posters on innovative and practical research findings in food and agricultural sciences.

“I am pleased to see three of our graduate students leave the research competition with flying colors,” Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan, interim dean/director of SAFHS, said. “The occasion marked the first time UAPB won three graduate student awards at an ARD symposium at the same time.”

Two graduate students of agricultural regulations were awarded for their poster presentations in the Plant Health and Production and Plant Products category. Jenat Rahman won first place for a presentation titled, “Down-Regulation of Lignin Biosynthetic Genes in Big Bluestem Grass (Andropogon gerardii Vitman).” Tiffanna Ross won third place for her poster, “In vitro Plant Regeneration in Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam cv. Beauregard).”

In the Animal Health and Production and Animal Products category, Greyson Farris, graduate student of aquaculture and fisheries, won second place for his oral presentation titled, “Calcein Marking: A Non-Lethal Batch Marking Option for Stocking Evaluation."

This year’s symposium included nearly 1,000 participants. Approximately 500 research papers and posters were presented, which also included topics on animal health and production, food safety, nutrition and health, and economic development for families and communities.

Cochran Fellows learned about soil science at UAPB, USDA-NRCS and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center.

March 2017

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SAFHS Highlights University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Mail Slot 4966 1200 N. University Drive Pine Bluff, AR 71601

SAFHS Highlights was produced by the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences Communications Office in January 2018.

Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan Interim Dean/Director Will Hehemann Carol Sanders Staff Writers/Editors Brad Mayhugh Graphic Designer and Photographer Debbie Archer Communications Section Leader Send change of address and/or correspondence to: Debbie Archer University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 1200 N. University Dr. Mail Slot 4966 Pine Bluff, AR 71601 archerd@uapb.edu (870) 575-8546

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UAPB North Little Rock Site offers Degree Program in Regulatory Sciences

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APB has relaunched its undergraduate degree program in regulatory sciences at the UAPB North Little Rock Site.

The degree program is intended to prepare more students in central Arkansas for careers related to regulatory and compliance activities with federal, state and local governments, as well as private industry.

“The North Little Rock site is an important part of UAPB's enrollment growth strategy,” Dr. Robert Z. Carr Jr., provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UAPB, said.

“After meeting with community leaders, it is clear the North Little Rock community is poised to support UAPB's regulatory science program. We are excited to partner with both the city of North Little Rock and local industries to educate the next generation of regulatory science majors.”

Graduates of the regulatory sciences program qualify for entry-level positions with government agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and Arkansas Department of Health, as well as for positions in private industrial and manufacturing plants, he said.

Though UAPB students enrolled in the program could previously take select courses at the North Little Rock location, they had to complete their degree at UAPB’s main campus in Pine Bluff. Now they can choose to complete the entire program in North Little Rock.

Students enrolled in the program can pursue an option in agriculture, environmental biology or industrial health and safety.

Depending on the particular degree option, courses include biostatistics, plant pathology, agricultural economics, environmental sci-

Dr. Robert Z. Carr Jr. presents his vision for the regulatory sciences program at an open house at the UAPB North Little Rock Site.

ence, industrial safety management, occupational and environmental health and quality control.

“We at the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences are very excited to offer our regulatory science bachelor’s degree program to the North Little Rock community,” Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan, interim dean/director of 1890 research and Extension programs for SAFHS, said. “It will provide opportunities for people interested in jobs that safeguard food, environment and health and safety in the workplace.”

Dr. Manoharan said governmental regulatory agencies protect the health and safety of the American public. UAPB graduates who are hired as regulatory agents will help ensure safety standards in the use of natural resources and agricultural products, environmental issues, waste disposal methods and within industrial and manufacturing sectors.