The School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is to be a partner in a world-class biotech-nology hub now being developed in Kannapolis, thanks in large part to the spirit of collaboration recently exhibited by a team of researchers and administrators in the School.

Spearheaded by Dole Foods owner David H. Murdock, the North Carolina Research Campus is a $1 billion biotech-nology center that will pool the expertise of several state univer-sities in researching functional foods designed to thwart disease and promote optimal health. The center is expected to be a major economic development engine and the catalyst for spin-off industries in the region. And, because Dole Foods Inc. is also building a large fresh-cut veg-

etable plant nearby, the project as a whole is expected to attract job seekers at all skill levels, as well as spur opportunities for both large and small fruit and vegetable growers in the state. As one of the two agricul-tural research universities in the state, A&T is a natural part-

ner. But its participation wasn’t a given. The SAES had to come up with a plan showing how its research competencies could contribute to the mission of the N.C. Research Campus, while not duplicating the work of other university partners. Enter the “Dole Foods Think Tank,” a team of 11 SAES faculty and staff named by Dean Alton Thompson to come up with a plan. After much discus-sion and deliberation, the team submitted a proposal for SAES to

contribute its expertise in post-harvest technologies. “The research campus is the first of its kind. Nothing like this has ever been done before, so there was no template or guide we could look to. It took some real creativity, teamwork, and out-of-the-box thinking,” said Dr. Carolyn Turner, associate dean of research for SAES and chair of the team. Post-harvest research will include such things as inves-tigating the health-promoting compounds in food; food-safety and processing, and new value-added products. If the proposal is funded by the N. C. General Assembly this year, the SAES will receive $9.8 million over five years to develop the research program at the Kannapolis site. Thompson recently honored the think tank team with his annual “Aggie Star Certificate,” which recognizes outstanding projects that require commit-ment to collaboration. Team members cited in the award were: Mohamed Ahmedna, Ken Gruber, Salam Ibrahim, Omoanghe Isikhuemhen, Chung Seo, Carolyn Turner, Willie Willis, Mulumebet Worku, Guochen Yang, Hong Yang and Jianmei Yu. Thompson expects the team will continue collaborating to implement the plan if it is funded as expected. “Then it won’t be the “think” tank anymore. It will be the ‘do’ tank,” he said.

Preparing. Finding. Implementing solutions.

Drs. Jianmei Yu (left) and Mohamed Ahmedna brought exper-

tise in food sciences to the multi-disciplinary think-tank that put

together a comprehensive proposal for significant new research

resources for the SAES.

on the move North Carolina A&T State University

School of Agriculture and

Environmental Sciences

Newsletter

June 2006 • Vol. V, No. 3

Dr. T’s Moment

“It’sawin,win,win,win,win.” I’vebeenusingthatcommentalotlately. Here’swhy. AtourspringSAESAdvisoryBoardmeeting,thegroupannouncedthreeinitiativesthatwillbenefittheSchool.Theyhaveagreedtoraiseaminimumof$75,000annuallyforstudentscholarships,oneofourmostpressingissues.Theyalsohaveagreedtoserveandfindotherswithinthe14companiestheyrepresent,andwithintheindus-trieswheretheyhavecontacts,toserveasmentors.Andtheyhaveagreedtohostandsponsoravis-itinglecturerseries,bringingthetopagindustryleaderstocampustoseeandvisitwithourstudentsandtoofferindustryadviceandinformation. Foragroupthat’sonlyinitssecondyear,thisisfantastic.Thiskindofsupportisexactlywhatweneed.Givingmoneyisonethingandwealwaysappreciateandneedthatkindofsupport.Butgivingofyourtimeandservicesissomethingelseandisequallyasvaluable.I’mlookingforwardtocontinuingtoworkwiththisgroup.Iseethisasawin,win,win,win,winforallofus. Secondly,tworepresenta-tivesfromAcharyaN.G.RangaAgriculturalUniversityinHyderabad,Indiarecentlyvisitedourcampus.Thisland-grantacad-emy,oneofIndia’slargest,signedaMemorandumofUnderstandingwithA&T,andSAESinparticu-lar,toseehowwemightshare,collaborateandcooperate.TheirthrustsandfocusmirrorthoseintheSAES-biotechnology,bio-diversity,waterandsoilquality,foodsafety,horticulture,value-addedproducts,wastemanage-mentandotherrelatedissues. Again,thisisawin,win,win,win,win. —Dr.AltonThompson

Dean,SAES

Aggie Star Collaboration Award goes to SAES team for $9.8 million proposal

The School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences celebrated the successes of administrators and faculty during a recent awards banquet. Two of the SAES’s researchers were lauded with top campus-wide recognitions, and three other faculty members were recognized for their work with students. Dr. Alton Thompson, the SAES dean, was also celebrated as N.C. A&T’s administrator of the year. And in typical fashion, Thompson extended the accolades that come with the honor to his faculty and staff. “I immediately started thinking that it was a team award, as opposed to one for an individual,” Thompson says. “This award is reflective of the administrative team, as well as the faculty and staff.” Thompson gives credit for the award to the SAES’s consistently good performance, most notably in developing a strategic plan that is part of the University’s FUTURES plan, and with programming in the School’s research, Cooperative Extension and aca-demic divisions. “The award is reflective of the tal-ent that we have in the SAES,” Thompson says. “Given the support and resources, our faculty will excel in contributing positively to the body of scientific knowledge and in making a difference in the lives of people and communities.” Dr. Omoanghe Isikhuemhen was named the Outstanding Young Investigator by A&T’s Division of Research and Economic Development, and Dr. Abolghasem Shahbazi shared the Senior Researcher of the Year Award with Dr. Kunigal Shivakumar of the College of Engineering. Isikhuemhen, an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, has made his mark

with mushroom science and fungal biotechnolo-gy. His work has gener-ated more than $800,000 in research awards for the University and people across the state clamor to attend the mushroom production demonstrations that he conducts. Shahbazi, a professor, directs the bioenvironmental engineering program admin-

istered jointly by the SAES and the College of Engineering. He has generated more than $3 million in research funding for A&T since joining the faculty. He is an expert in bioprocess engineering and renewable energy systems, and has been published in more than 20 publications. Dr. Jane Walker, an associate professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Dr. Antoine Alston, of the Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education, were named the SAES’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year, and Outstanding Advisor of the Year, respectively. Walker had recommendations from colleagues in the department, as well as SAES administrators, but some of the most telling comments came from the students

she teaches and guides through internships. Graduating senior LaToya Watson described Walker as a role model who performs at “110 percent,” and also says: “Dr. Walker has inspired me to become a better student as well as a better person. I have become more goal ori-

ented and I challenge myself more.” Alston, an assistant professor and coordinator for the SAES Agricultural Education Program, drew a rousing ovation from students at the SAES Student Awards

Banquet when his award was announced. He usually advises about 25 undergraduates and 10 graduate students per year. Both Alston and Walker are instrumental in helping students find summer internships and permanent jobs after graduation. Alston helped establish one of the SAES’s most active student orga-nizations, the Collegiate FFA chapter. When it comes to outstanding staff perfor-mance, Iris F. Moses, administrative secretary for Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education, took home top honors for what Thompson describes as

her unflagging work helping both students and their parents. “She has given tirelessly to numerous parents and students involved with the School

and other departments on campus,” Thompson says. “For nearly 25 years, students have returned calls and visits to her to acknowledge her impact on their lives. Three key words describe this year’s recipient according to her col-leagues: motivator, encour-ager and nurturer.”

on the move

Gamma Sigma Delta picks out three for excellence in teaching, research and Extension

Preparing. Finding. Implementing solutions.

Aggies from SAES made sure that Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers would always remember that the “A” in “A&T” stands for “agriculture.” On her last day of a distinguished career at A&T in which she had served for six years as provost and

vice-chancellor for Academic Affairs, the school named

her an honorary member of

Gamma Sigma

Delta, the presti-gious honor society

for agri-culture, at

the annual Student Awards

Banquet April 28. Meyers “brings

a fresh perspective to issues and she is exceptionally gifted at prob-

lem solving,” said Dr. Alton Thompson, in nominating her for membership. Thompson also described Meyers as an outstanding leader with an enormous amount of creativity, insight, and energy, “a leader who has a unique ability to bring out the very best in those with whom she interacts,” and “a pillar of support for the programs, activities and events in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.” Several faculty members also received Gamma Sig awards that reflect the tripar-

tite mission of SAES: teaching, research and Extension. The Award of Excellence in Teaching went to Dr. Charles Raczkowski, adjunct associate professor of natural resources. Raczkowski has taught

at A&T since 1988 and teaches seven classes. Students have high praise for his style, describing him as “devoted,” “highly respected,” and his teaching methods as “above the standard.” One student wrote that Raczkowski was an “instrumental part of my academic development and exceeded the duties of the job requirements.” Dr. Jianmei Yu (pictured on front), research associate, received the Award of Excellence in Research. Yu works in Dr. Mohamed Ahmedna’s lab, which special-

izes in food safety and value-added prod-ucts research. Yu’s recent works includes research on allergin-free peanuts. She was cited by Gamma Sig for her “publica-tions and research work [that] have been cited by international

scholars and reported by national and international media.” The recipient of the Award for Excellence in Extension was presented to Dr. Jean Baldwin, Family Education Specialist for The Cooperative Extension Program at A&T. Baldwin was recognized for positively impacting parents and chil-dren in North Carolina and in other states, and for her leadership at the univer-sity, state and national levels. The Gamma Sig citation described Baldwin as “a conscientious scholar whose pro-ductivity and per-formance have been evident throughout her years with The Cooperative Extension Program at A&T.”

Faculty, staff, and dean on the march at Awards Banquet

Antoine Alston

Jane Walker

Charles Raczkowski

Jean Baldwin

Omoanghe Isikhuemhen

Abolghasem Shahbazi

Iris F. Moses

Dr. Alton Thompson, the SAES dean,

and A&T’s Administrator of the Year,

with SAES students Natasha

Oris-Thomas (left) and Darius Hale.

Dr. David Libby

Dr. David Libbyhasretiredafter26yearswiththeSAESDepartmentofAnimalSciences.

LibbycametoN.C.A&Tin1980,after10yearswithTuskegeeUniversity.Priorto

Tuskegee,Libbyhadbeenastu-dent—frombachelor’sdegreetodoctorate—attheUniversityofMaine.

Ontwooccasions,Libbyservedfortwo-yeartermsastheinterimdepartmentchair.HehasalsoservedonmanySAESandUniversityfacultycommit-tees,includingtheSchoolandUniversitytenurecommittees.Libby’sresumealsoincludesseveralpostsandcommitteeappointmentshewaselectedtobyhispeersontheSAESfac-ulty.Inthe1980s,wellbeforetheSAESandtheUniversityhadestablishedinformationtechnol-ogyunits,LibbyhelpedsetthegroundworkfortheITrevolutionthatwasaroundthecorner.HewaspartoftheSAESteamthatdevelopedthePigDisc,“CD-ROM”(astheywereknownatthetime)thatwasanelectronicrepositoryofswine-productioninformationforresearchersandinstructors—oneoftheSAES’sfirstcomputer-assisteddatacol-lectionprojects.

Libby’sacademiclegacyalsoincludesalonglistofpublica-tionsandhonors,butchanc-esarethemostprominenttributestohiscareerwillbethestudentsheinspiredtogoontomaketheirownimpactsinthefieldofani-malsciences.ThelonglistofformerLibbystudentswhowentontodistin-guishthemselvesincludesDrs.TracyHannerandRalphNobleoftheSAESDepartmentofAnimalSciences.(WhileNoblewasanundergraduateatTuskegee,Libbywashisfacultyadvisor.Libbywasalsoamemberof

Noble’sthesiscommitteewhenthecurrentSAESdepartmentchairwascompletinghismaster’satTuskegee.)

faculty & staff notes

________________ Nonprofit Org.________________

US Postage Paid________________ Permit No. 202 ________________

Greensboro, NC________________

on the moveNorth Carolina A&T State University School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences NewsletterProduced by the Agricultural Communications and Technology Unit

Dr. James C. Renick, ChancellorDr. Alton Thompson, Dean, School of Agriculture and Environmental SciencesDr. M. Ray McKinnie, Associate Dean, Administrator, The Cooperative Extension ProgramDr. Carolyn Turner, Associate Dean, Agricultural Research StationDr. Donald McDowell, Associate Dean, Academic Programs

North Carolina A&T State University is a land-grant high research activity institution and AA/EEO employer.

Send change of address and correspondence to: on the move Newsletter Editor Agricultural Research Program CH Moore Agricultural Research Station Greensboro, NC 27411

7,000 copies of this public document were printed on recycled paper at a cost of $879.14 or $0.13 per copy.

Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are open to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, US Department of Agriculture and local governments cooperating.

www.ag.ncat.edu

Students in Dr. Marihelen Glass’s floral design class closed out the semester with a mock

wedding to get a real-world setting for bouquets, boutonnieres, table-top and altar

arrangements. Students Maurize Jackson (left) and Candyce Gilmore were groom and

bride, and Dr. Glass portrayed the justice of the peace. Chennell Brown and Janessa Smith

(right) volunteered to be the maid of honor and brides maid.

mark your calendar

• Research Apprentice

Program (RAP): June

18 – 30 and July 9 – 21

• Institute for Future

Agricultural Leaders

(IFAL): June 22

on the move/flip side