Lunsford honored as Emerging Leader; TU to host USDA Center of Excellence

¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Cooperative Extension Program (TUCEP) congratulates Dr. Lindsey Lunsford who was selected as one of the Top 20 Emerging Leaders in the Food & Ag for 2020 Awards. Dr. Lunsford was part of the first cohort to receive her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program in Integrative Public Policy and Development (IPPD) at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ.

The Emerging Leaders in Food & Ag Awards are designed to honor up and coming leaders from across the food industry and to highlight the amazing work and dedication of the individuals that will lead us into a new future in food and agriculture.

She is currently a Sustainable Food System Resource Specialist within the Carver Integrative Sustainability Center (CISC) and TUCEP in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in food systems. She is working to make sure that the Extension and Outreach is relevant for future generations and to increase the impact of Small Farmers on their surrounding communities of consumers and vice versa – work that is aligned with the mission of the CISC Center of Excellence. Part of Lindsey’s work is funded through a grant ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ received from the USDA/NIFA for the Center of Excellence in Sustainability of Small Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners in the amount of $1.6 million.

The funds Tuskegee received was part of FY19 Federal Appropriations Bill in the amount of $4.8 million initially supporting three Centers of Excellence at 1890 Land Grant Institutions. The Centers of Excellence goals are to increase of profitability and rural prosperity in underserved farming communities; address critical needs for enhanced international training and development; and increase diversity in the science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics (STEAM) pipeline.

Contact:  Jacquelyn Carlisle (jcarlisle@tuskegee.edu)
Jacquelyn Carlisle, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences