FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Dr. Angel Cruz, Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager – aecruz@ncsu.edu
[Raleigh, NC – May 18, 2021] — The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Agroecology Scholars Program in Research and Extension (ASPIRE) provides undergraduate participants with diverse research, education, extension, and professional development opportunities focused on sustainable agriculture and food systems. During this 10-week individualized summer research and extension experience, students will work with faculty and graduate student mentors on research, participate in professional skills development, agriculture career path exploration, and extension training, as well as visit a diversity of farms across the state highlighting a variety of production practices and the many opportunities and challenges farmers face in agriculture.
Dr. Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager, is especially excited this year about the diversity of students coming together this summer. “We have students from a variety of backgrounds, with unique interests and life experiences. I am sure we will all learn a lot from each other through the summer. I am also just excited to be bringing students together in person for hands-on learning for the first time in a long time due to COVID-19 restrictions.”
The ASPIRE Program is made possible through the Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Program, [grant no. 2020-67037-30673], from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and The Native American Agriculture Fund.
The 2021 CEFS ASPIRE interns and their mentors/research areas are:
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Shachar Berkowitz-Regosin | Barnard College | Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Boys | Research topic: Food Safety and Supply Chain Economics |
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Wills Franklin Brooks | University of Mount Olive | Mentor: Dr. Miguel Castillo | Research topic: Crabgrass Forage Production |
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McKenzie Cummings | North Carolina State University | Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Ward | Research topic: Dairy Fly Control |
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Juhi Dattani | North Carolina State University | Mentor: Dr. Shuijin Hu | Research topic: Soil Health and Microbiology |
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William Fleming | West Virginia University | Mentor: Dr. Alexandra Huerta | Research topic: Bacterial Plant Diseases |
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Kayleigh Heather | Virginia Polytechnic Institute | Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Kulesza | Research topic: Impact of Cover Crop Type and Management on Efficacy of Urease Inhibitors |
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Abel Locklear | North Carolina State University | Mentor: Dr. David Suchoff | Research topic: Cover Crops |
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Kiara McKenzie-Perry | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | Mentor: Dr. Mark Hoffman | Research topic: Small Fruits |
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Dakota Moore | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | Mentor: Dr. Alex Woodley | Research topic: Sustainable and Organic Soil Fertility |
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Katina Oxendine | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Mentor: Dr. Ramon Leon | Research topic: Weed Science |
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Joe Pellegrino | North Carolina State University | Mentor: Dr. Francesco Tiezzi | Research topic: Farmer Welfare during COVID-19 |
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Roxanne Reyes | Cornell University | Mentor: Dr. Alexandra Huerta | Research topic: Bacterial Plant Diseases |
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Alexandra Veverka | North Carolina State University | Mentor: Dr. Ramon Leon | Research topic: Weed Science |
For more information about the ASPIRE Program, please visit the CEFS website.