UAPB-SAFHS Highlights Summer 2015

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

Summer 2015

Upcoming Dates and Events September 17 Agriculture Field Day 7:30 a.m. - registration 8:30 a.m. - welcome 9:00 a.m. - tours begin University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Agriculture Research Fields

September 24 Aquatic Sciences Day 9:30 a.m. - noon University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Aquaculture/Fisheries Center A fun day of learning about aquaculture/fisheries for high school students. Pre-register by calling Delila urman at 870-575-8968.

SAFHS Joins in 125th Anniversary Celebration

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his year marks the 125th anniversary of the signing of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 and the creation of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) and the 18 other historically black landgrant universities (the 1890s). Justin Morrill, the author of the Act, believed that all people deserved the right to education regardless of race or social class. e School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences (SAFHS) held several events throughout the year to celebrate its history of educational access and community advancement as an 1890 land-grant university. e year of celebration at UAPB kicked off with the 59th Annual Rural Life Conference, which featured workshops on topics such as opportunities in agriculture, healthy diets and chronic disease prevention, livestock management and forestry.

James E. Tillman Sr., regional conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and UAPB alumnus, delivered the S.A. Haley Memorial Lecture. Dr. Ann M. Bartuska, deputy undersecretary for research, education and economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, spoke at the luncheon.

In March, SAFHS and the Alumni Association hosted a luncheon in honor of UAPB Chancellor Dr. Laurence B. Alexander and in recognition of the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act. Faculty, staff, alumni and government and industry representatives continued on pages 4 and 5

James E. Tillman Sr., NRCS regional conservationist for the Southeast, delivered the Rural Life Conference S.A. Haley Memorial Lecture.

Dr. Ann M. Bartuska, USDA deputy under secretary for research, education and economics was the luncheon speaker at the Rural Life Conference.

Abraham Carpenter, a local farmer, gave the “farmer’s perspective” during the Alumni Association Chancellor’s Luncheon.

Dr. James O. Garner Jr., former SAFHS dean/director, presented a plaque to Dr. Laurence B. Alexander, UAPB chancellor, during the Alumni Association Luncheon.

Administrative Changes in SAFHS Summer 2015 has been marked by two administrative changes in SAFHS. Dr. Edmund R. Buckner was named interim dean/director of SAFHS, following the retirement of Dr. James O. Garner, Jr. In this position, Dr. Buckner will be responsible for the academic, research, Extension and international proDr. Edmund R. Buckner grams of the School and the management of its resources, including faculty and staff, physical facilities and budget.

Dr. Buckner was appointed as an assistant professor of fisheries in 2001. He currently holds the rank of professor with working assignments in all three areas of the land grant trilogy of teaching, research and Extension.

During his tenure with the University, Dr. Buckner has secured more than $3.8 million in external grant funding.

Prior to coming to UAPB, Dr. Buckner worked with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as a Biologist and on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Task Force Coordinator where he was the lead writer in draing the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Act (106th Congress, H.R. 1013).

A native of Dermott, Arkansas, he has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture (fisheries biology emphasis) from UAPB, a master’s degree in natural resources management from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point and a doctoral degree in natural resources policy and law from Purdue University.

Dr. Rebecca Lochmann was named interim chair of the UAPB Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries and interim director of the Aquaculture/ Fisheries Center of Excellence. In this position, she will administer overall activities related to the Center in the areas of instruction, research and Extension.

Dr. Rebecca Lochmann She will be responsible for planning research, education and Extension programs relevant to the aquaculture and natural resource industries and to the state of Arkansas. As principle liaison for the Center, she will work with local producers and industry councils.

Also, she will supervise the ponds and equipment at the university research station, as well as the university’s four fish diagnostic labs.

Prior to this position, Dr. Lochmann served as professor of aquaculture/fisheries at UAPB since 1996. Her research focus is fish nutrition with an emphasis on small cyprinids (baitfish), channel catfish and largemouth bass.

Her most recent research focuses on alternative protein and lipid sources in fish diets and improving the product quality of foodfish for consumers. While at UAPB, she has procured dozens of research grants for the university and local industry.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she has a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree in marine biology from the Florida Institute of Technology and a doctoral degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Texas A&M University.

UAPB Graduates First Aquaculture/Fisheries Doctoral Student UAPB graduated its first doctoral student in June when Ganesh Kumar Karunakaran received a doctorate in aquaculture/fisheries. He was the first student to enroll in the inaugural doctoral program aer it was established in 2011.

“Ganesh was an outstanding student, and it has been very gratifying to watch him become the first graduate of our Ph.D. program,” Dr. Rebecca Lochmann, interim chair of the UAPB Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, said. “With his combination of education, skills and personal qualities, he will have many interesting and challenging career options ahead of him.”

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SAFHS Highlights

Karunakaran’s dissertation was titled “Economics and Adoption of Alternate Catfish Production Technologies.” He presented many of the Dr. Ganesh Kumar results of his disserKarunakaran tation work at national and international scientific meetings. Some of his work was selected for presentation earlier this year at the triennial Research Symposium of the Catfish Farmers of America. e scientific journal, “Reviews in Fisheries Science and Aquaculture,” has ac-

cepted a manuscript from his dissertation for publication. ree other manuscripts from Karunakar’s dissertation are in various stages of review.

Doctoral students must meet a series of rigorous milestones that includes the formation of a dissertation committee and the finalization of a plan of study by the end of their first semester and the completion of a dissertation proposal within 200 days of enrolling in the program.

Additionally, the candidates must pass a preliminary examination that includes five days of written exams, including a comprehensive exam and an oral exam.

Alumni Spotlight — Carnita Whimper

Alumna Carnita Nicole Whimper poses beside some of the garments she procures as junior assistant buyer for the Burlington Coat Factory’s West Coast buying office in Los Angeles.

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t an office in the bustling garment district of downtown Los Angeles, 2010 alumna Carnita Nicole Whimper finds fulfillment in her creative flexibility in a career in corporate fashion. As a junior assistant buyer for the Burlington Coat Factory’s West Coast buying office, she uses her enthusiasm for the fashion industry to help determine the retailer’s fashion garments for the current and upcoming seasons.

Whimper, a native of Pine Bluff, is responsible for the selection of junior girls tops for 534 stores in 44 states. She works with vendors and attends fashion markets to select and negotiate for products that meet customer needs at competitive prices.

In addition to product procurement, Whimper participates in the development process. “I enjoy being able to contribute to the production aspects of the job, whether it’s putting together ideas for a screen tee or choosing the fabric or silhouette of a garment to be produced for our stores,” she said.

Vendors hope to create a list of garments that Burlington Coat Factory will consistently purchase and Whimper works with them to finalize product

specifications. In a typical meeting with a vendor, Whimper communicates her company’s current needs as well as her own observations of current fashion trends.

“Let’s say I go into a meeting and I know we are looking for feminine pretty tops,” she said. “I tell the vendor some of the trends I saw last time I went shopping – lace or crochet designs, for example – and indicate the colors or designs that usually sell best for us. They then mock up a full production of what we want on specific top types such as regular T-shirts or V-necks.”

In addition to her day job, Whimper enjoys entrepreneurial pursuits. In May 2015, she launched her own swimwear boutique, Bare Swim. Though the catalog currently features wholesale designs, she has already sketched up her own designs for future product releases.

She said the process of starting a business from scratch has been challenging and fun. In addition to procuring the items for sale, she set up a website, www.bareswim.com, and coordinated with local models, photographers and makeup artists over social media to set up a full photo shoot for marketing materials.

Whimper said the business is off to a good start. She was even invited to participate at Los Angeles Swim Week.

Though she will not be able to attend the annual swimwear event this year, she hopes to in the future.

Whimper received bachelor’s degrees in business marketing and agricultural business from UAPB, and a master’s degree in business economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

“The marketing instruction and challenging coursework at UAPB helped prepare me for my career,” Whimper said. “One of the most helpful exercises was creating a full business plan from scratch, including backend information such as target market demographics.

These are the kinds of things I think

about now in my career at Burlington as we market to people from different age groups or regions of the country.”

While at UAPB Whimper was active in several organizations including the Delta Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC. and the Black Essence Modeling Team. She was the co-captain of the frontline dance team Golden Girls for the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South (M4) band and was captain of the Spirit Team. She graduated with honors from Pine Bluff High School and was president of her class.

That Whimper works in the historic Cooper Building in an environment marked by branded and non-branded showrooms such as 7 For All Mankind, Alice + Olivia, Halston Heritage and Levi’s is testament to her lifelong love for fashion.

She said her mother, Alneta Whimper, was an early influence on her career.

“When I was growing up, my mom worked in fashion and loved to shop just as much,” Whimper said. “We would take shopping trips to Little Rock almost every weekend, putting outfits together for our family. So much of my interest in fashion comes from her.”

Whimper credits her father, Carl Whimper, with teaching her how to be business-minded, outgoing and hardworking. Mr. Whimper, a 1975 graduate of UAPB, was the director of media relations for athletics at UAPB and later served as the assistant director of student recruitment.

Whimper advises students to start thinking about their career while in college by joining student organizations and seeking out pertinent internships in their fields of interest.

“Participating in organizations builds character, shows leadership and develops skills not learned in the classroom that can translate into experience,” she said. “This makes you a better candidate for an internship that can give you work experience and knowledge.”

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gathered to greet the chancellor and praise the School for its educational opportunities. Dr. Alexander expressed the pride he felt for having the chance to lead an 1890 landgrant university, which was established merely a decade aer the abolition of slavery.

In mid-April, SAFHS hosted the 1890 Day Wellness Walk/Run and Health Fair. e health-themed event featured a 1.890-mile walk/ run, health screenings, Zumba classes and educational sessions on health and wellness, diabetes awareness, CPR training and smoking prevention. Performances by the Marching Musical Machine of the Midsouth (M4) percussion section and the UAPB Spirit Team preceded the walk. e nation’s other 1890 universities held similar walks in April, both to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act and to promote health and exercise. e 1890s on the Hill Celebration, held in July in Washington, D.C., provided all of the nation’s 1890 land-grant universities an opportunity to celebrate their anniversary milestone together. Held at the Library of Congress, the event included exhibits on the latest research out of each of the universities, speeches by Congressional members and a convocation.

Carla Martin, interim vice chancellor for finance and administration, emceed the 1890 Day Wellness Walk/Run and Health Fair, which celebrated UAPB’s history as an 1890 land-grant institution.

The health fair included line dancing, Zumba classes, health screenings and educational sessions on health and wellness.

More than 160 walkers/runners participated in the 1890 Wellness Walk/Run.

1890 Wellness Walk/Run administrators and participant winners, left to right: Carla Martin, interim vice chancellor for finance and administration; ASM Sorker, graduate student of horticulture and manager of the UAPB greenhouse; Sharoya Simmons, sophomore industrial technology management and applied engineering major; Salonica Hunter, sophomore mass communications major; Dr. James O. Garner Jr., former dean/director for the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences; and Dr. Edmund R. Buckner, interim dean/director for SAFHS.

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SAFHS Highlights

A delegation from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff participated recently in the 1890s on the Hill Celebration, held in Washington, D.C., in commemoration of the signing of the Second Morrill Act of 1890.

Dr. Jaheon Koo explains his “Transformation of Fruits and Vegetables to Value-added Products” research to an 1890s on the Hill exhibition participant.

Dr. Laurence B. Alexander, UAPB chancellor, gave introductions during the 125th Anniversary Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C.

UAPB faculty and students presented research at the Library of Congress. From left to right: Greyson Farris, graduate student of aquaculture/fisheries; Dr. Rebecca Lochmann, interim chair of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries; Michele Thompson, graduate student of aquaculture/fisheries; Dr. Jaheon Koo, associate professor of regulatory science; and Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan, associate professor of agriculture.

The 125th Anniversary of the Signing of the Second Morrill Act Convocation Program was held in the Library of Congress Jefferson Building, Coolidge Auditorium, in Washington, D.C.

Tom Vilsak, the nation's 30th Secretary of Agriculture, addressed the 1890 land-grant universities during the event’s convocation.

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Collegiate 4-H Club Opens Food Pantry for UAPB Students

Several founders participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the UAPB student food pantry. From left: Ralph Owens, dean of student life at UAPB; Michela Martin, Miss UAPB 2014; Kara Brown, associate dean of students activities at UAPB; Erin Chambers, community relations coordinator for the Arkansas Food Bank; Robert Wall, director of facilities management at UAPB; Daniel Perry, president of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences club at UAPB; and Kahmron Hymes, president of the Collegiate 4-H Club at UAPB.

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he Collegiate 4-H Club at UAPB recently partnered with the Arkansas Food Bank to open a food pantry on campus. “e pantry is open to all residential and commuter students with a valid student ID card,” said Rita Conley, director of the Student Success Center at UAPB. “Its purpose is not intended as a sole food source for students, but rather to fill meal gaps from time to time when students are food insecure.” e initiative was started aer the Arkansas Food Bank contacted the office of student involvement at UAPB to gauge interest in a college food pantry program. e 4-H Club conducted an online survey of students, staff, faculty and administrators to assess need, support and available resources. e survey revealed a need and overwhelming support and adequate resources to establish the pantry, Conley said. Of 137 students that responded to the survey, 78 percent reported not having enough food for themselves or their household. For half of the student responders, this lack of food occurred five or more times during a semester.

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“Based on anecdotal evidence, college students are experiencing a higher risk of food insecurity,” Conley said. “is is because they are considered a vulnerable population because they are oen young, socioeconomically disadvantaged, have low levels of disposable income, live away from home and experience the increasing tuition and cost of living. Additionally, food insecurity by definition can be temporary and may pose negative student health and learning outcomes.”

According to the non-profit Feeding America, Arkansas ranks among the top 10 most food insecure states in the nation, with Jefferson County among the top 10 most food insecure counties in Arkansas. e statistics indicate that African Americans are twice as likely to be food insecure.

To address the food insecurity on the UAPB campus, Pia Woods, family and consumer sciences/4-H Extension agent, helped establish the Jefferson County 4-H Foundation as the nonprofit fiscal agent for a food pantry, Conley said. e pantry was approved as an Arkansas Food Bank Network partner in the fall of 2014.

e 4-H Club at UAPB then worked with the UAPB Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Club to make the pantry their signature community service project. Students completed required training, cleaned the pantry location, installed shelving and stocked the pantry. ey also assisted students in completing intake forms and explained how the shopping-style pantry works.

Student volunteers are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the pantry with the supervision of the advisory board comprised of faculty, staff and administrative representatives. ey hold positions such as volunteer coordinator, inventory control manager, publicity coordinator, food drive coordinator and fundraising chairperson. Because many volunteers are needed to sustain the pantry, other student organization members will be recruited to volunteer as well.

During the school year, the pantry will be open on the third ursday of each month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., however, depending on student demand and the availability of volunteers, the pantry could see hours extended to twice a month. Additionally, students in need of emergency food can visit the pantry by appointment.

Monetary donations to the pantry can be made payable to the Jefferson County 4-H Foundation, the pantry’s non-profit fiscal partner, and mailed to UAPB Student Food Pantry, Department of Agriculture, 1200 North University Drive Mail Slot 4913, Pine Bluff, AR 71601. Because of space limitation, the pantry only accepts specific donated food items from a list during planned and announced food drives. However, community and faith-based organizations are encouraged to sponsor food drives for the student pantry.

For more information contact Conley at (870) 575-8368 or Teki K.H. Winston, co-adviser for the UAPB Collegiate 4-H Club, at (870) 575-8538.

New Appointments in School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Science Shaun A. Francis has been appointed as research horticulturist for SAFHS. In this position he will work with small and limited-resource farmers in the state on a variety of vegetable and fruit topShaun A. Francis ics, with an emphasis on growing sweet potatoes.

Francis will develop strategies to help local farmers market their produce and maintain an active research project to support Extension efforts. He will plan, organize and implement Extension and research programs and facilitate youth development programs.

Prior to this position, Francis was a graduate research assistant for the horticulture department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he evaluated conservation tillage as a climate change adaptation strategy in vegetable production. From 2011 to 2013, he conducted graduate research on insect control in sweet potato production at UAPB. Francis has a master’s degree in agricultural regulations from UAPB and a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Guyana.

Dr. Suja Aarattuthodiyil has been appointed assistant professor of fish pathology for the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence at UAPB. In this position she will Dr. Suja Aarattuthodiyil provide Extension diagnostic and research support for Arkansas aquaculture.

Dr. Aarattuthodiyil will oversee UAPB’s four-lab diagnostic system in the state and will conduct fish inspections necessary for industry certification. She will also work to develop a dynamic Extension educational program focused on fish health and biosecurity.

Prior to this position, Dr. Aarattuthodiyil managed a diagnostic and water quality laboratory for Cargill Foods India. ere, she served shrimp and fish farmers’ diagnostic needs and traveled to over 30 farms in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dr. Aarattuthodiyil has a doctoral degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a master’s degree in aquaculture and fisheries from UAPB and a master’s degree in pathology and microbiology from

the Central Institute of Fisheries Education in Mumbai, India.

Dr. Nilima Renukdas has been appointed lab manager for the UAPB Fish Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Lonoke, Arkansas. In Dr. Nilima Renukdas this position she will provide Extension diagnostic and research support for Arkansas aquaculture.

Prior to this position, Dr. Renukdas worked as a post-doctoral researcher for Dr. Jeonghwang Park, assistant professor of aquaculture/engineering at UAPB. In that role, she conducted studies with hybrid catfish, baitfish and largemouth bass. She gained experience in fish health by volunteering for the UAPB diagnostic laboratory during inspections for farmers as part of the Arkansas Baitfish Certification program.

Dr. Renukdas has a doctoral degree in biotechnology, a masters’ degree in botany and a bachelor’s degree in botany and biomedical techniques from the University of Pune in India.

SAFHS Graduates 35 Students During Spring Ceremonies

Twenty-nine undergraduate degrees and six graduate degrees were awarded to School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences students at UAPB's 152nd Commencement. The faculty procession, left photo, was led by Dr. Rebecca Lochmann, interim chair of the UAPB Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries and interim director of the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence.

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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 August 2015.

Dr. Edmund R. Buckner Interim Dean/Director Will Hehemann Carol Sanders Staff Writers 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’s Spring Cultural Fest

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he annual Spring Cultural Fest featured food and fashion from different cultures, live music and dance.

Dr. Janette R. Wheat, associate professor for the Department of Human Sciences at UAPB, and her Families Across Cultures class, hosted the event. This year’s festival theme was “Cultural Flavors Beyond the Border.”

“The purpose of the cultural festival is to promote unity, demonstrate an appreciation and tolerance for a diversity of cultures and showcase an array of international cuisines, fashions, arts, music, mores, traditions and customs of multiethnic families’ way of life within a global society,” said Dr. Wheat.