Annual Reports

ACS - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Committee (ACS528)

2017 Annual Report

Annual Report of ACS 528 for 2017

Summary

The Diversity in Agronomy, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Committee (ACS528) proceeded with its primary objectives to 1) increase the number of high school students attending 2017’s ASA, CSSA and SSSA meetings; and 2) increase graduate student participation in the Minority Student Poster Competition. The high school students participating in the Gateway Scholars Program (previously known as Platinum Scholars Program) of the ACS 528 enjoyed the planned activities and displayed great interest and enthusiasm at this year’s meeting. Overall, the Diversity Committee’s activities during the Annual Meeting were a success. This report includes minutes from the Annual Meeting and highlights the various activities and achievements of 2017. Acknowledgment of donors and supporters and suggestions for improvement are also presented.

1. Mission Statement

Diversity in Agronomy, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Committee (ACS528), under the auspices of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, is committed to enhancing the participation of underrepresented students and professionals in the three Societies, thereby strengthening and diversifying the potential workforce in agricultural and environmental sciences. The Diversity Committee endeavors are to recruit students for careers in the agricultural and environmental sciences through the Gateway Scholars Program. The Gateway Scholars Program sponsors the participation of local high school students and teachers at the ASA/CSSA/SSSA annual meetings, where they obtain first-hand experiences of agricultural and environmental issues, cutting-edge scientific knowledge, and enhanced understanding of the role of the Tri-Societies in finding solutions to national and global problems concerning production of food, fiber, fuel, and the environment.

2. Minutes of Monthly Teleconferences and Annual Business Meetings

Teleconferences:

Teleconferences were regularly held this year to keep the members abreast of the committee’s activities and to enhance their involvement in the efforts to achieve the objectives of the ACS528 board. During these teleconferences, subcommittees were created to help carry out the activities of the Diversity Committee for this year’s Annual Meeting. The subcommittees were as follows: Graduate Student Poster Competition Committee, Gateway Scholars Program Committee, Gateway Scholars Funding Raising Committee, and the Gateway Scholars High School Identification Committee.

Annual Business Meeting - 2017

This year’s annual business meeting was held on October 24, 2017, at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. Attendees included members of the ACS528 and other members of the societies (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) representing underrepresented groups across the world. A total of 8 people participated in this year’s annual business meeting. Dr. Terrence Gardner, Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University Raleigh NC (Chair-2017), presented the 2017 Committee’s Activity Report. The Chair-elect for 2018-19 and secretary for 2018-19 were elected through voting. Committee members and guests discussed ideas of how to improve and expand the activities of the Diversity Committee in preparation for Baltimore and San Diego in 2018 and 2019. One suggestion was to start the Gateway Scholarship Committee and strengthen the fundraising committee so that we could raise enough funds for at least one scholarship award to a high school senior participating in the annual meeting. It was also suggested that we could attract high school juniors and seniors to the annual meeting.

3. Diversity Graduate Student Poster Competition, ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings, October 22-25, 2017, Tampa, FL.

Annually, one of the significant activities of the Diversity in Agronomy, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Committee (ACS528) is to recognize outstanding posters presented by graduate students from under-represented groups at the Annual International Meetings of the three societies (ASA-CSSA-SSSA). A total of 10 graduate students belonging to underrepresented groups participated in this year’s competition. The participants also had the opportunity to explain their research to the High School students attending the Gateway Scholars Program of the ACS 528. The interaction between the graduate students presenting posters and those participating in the Gateway Scholars Program were outstanding and encouraging. Combining the two ACS528 events aided in our objective of motivating high school students to consider pursuing a career in agricultural and environmental sciences. The two award winners of the Diversity Graduate Student Poster Competition were Ohene Akroko (Iowa State University) – Comparison of Surface Energy Balance Components on a Tilled and an Un-tilled Bare Soil (1^st), and Nall Moonillal (Ohio State University) – Effect of Topsoil Depth and Amendments on Sol Health and Agronomic Productivity in Central Ohio (1^st).

4. Gateway Scholars Program, ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings October 22-25, 2017, Tampa, FL.

The ‘Gateway Scholars program' was initiated in 2010 under the name 'Platinum Scholars Program.' The ACS 528 committee voted for a change in the name of this initiative to align better with the Society's other programs. This program was designed to introduce high school students to the multitude of scientific disciplines in which members of ASA, CSSA, and SSSA are engaged in by inviting students and teachers from local high schools to attend the annual conference. The goal is to introduce the next generation of scientists to these research areas and identify and motivate the future leaders in these sciences. This year we hosted students from Freedom High School in the Tampa Public School district. The students were welcomed by Dr. Gardner and Dr. Williams by providing an introduction of the scholar program, the objectives of the program, and career opportunities. Also, Dr. Davis representative from the Diversity council shared his academic and career experiences with the students. The Gateway Scholars with their appointed tour guides attended oral sessions on Impacts of soil and water pollution on food security, and Novel and ancient crops: Small in acreage, large in value. The Gateway Scholars visited college/ university booths and vendors in the exhibit hall. At the end of the program, the students attended the Gateway Scholars Motivational Program (Special Session held at 1:00 to 1:30 pm) where Dr. Ralph H. Crawford (Assistant Director, Forest Health Protection, WERC, Forest Service) served as speaker for the Gateway Scholars Motivational Program. The speakers including Dr. Terrence Gardner, Dr. Candiss Williams, and Dr. Dedrick Davis provided the students with valuable information regarding their journeys. The high school students attending the Gateway Scholars Program were given the opportunity to ask questions related to pursuing careers in agricultural and environmental science related fields.

5. Request for Endorsement from Societies’ Presidents of New Chair, Chair-elect and Member

ACS528 submits to the Societies’ Presidents the following names for endorsement:

2018-19 Chair: Dr. Candiss Williams (USDA-NRCS)

2018-19 Chair-Elect: TBA

2018-19 Secretary: TBA

6. Acknowledgment of Supporters, Donors and Motivational speakers

ACS 528 Committee is grateful to the Agronomic Science Foundation and our societies (CSSA-ASA-SSSA) for monetary support. The Committee would also like to thank the Noble Foundation, USDA-ARS, Alabama A&M University, University of Illinois, University of Wyoming, Yorktown State University, Prairie View A&M University, NOSB, and CHS, for providing promotional gift items and other support for the Gateway Scholars Program.

We would also thank the student volunteers who served as guides for the high school students. We would like to thank the teachers Mr. Kory Jones (Student Success Coach), Mrs. Gordon (History Teacher and "African-American Studies Club" sponsor, Mrs. Newcomb (Agricultural Science Teacher) and Mrs. Grigoropoulos (Science Teacher) from Freedom High School for allowing their students to attend the Gateway Scholars program.

We would like to thank Dr. Ralph Crawford for his informative and exciting motivational presentation and Drs. Terrence Gardner, Candiss Williams, and Dedrick Davis for their presentations. Also, we are grateful to Dr. Hero Gollany, USDA ARS, Dr. Elica Moss and Dr. Kokoasse Kpomblekou (Tuskegee University) for their leadership and consultations, and Dr. Ann Marie Thro, National Program Leader (NIFA), for providing take-home gift bags for the Gateway Scholars.

The Committee is deeply grateful to the ASA - CSSA - SSSA for supporting all our events.

We also thank everybody in the headquarters of all three societies, for assisting the Diversity Committee. We would like to especially thank Mr. Alexander Barton for facilitating funding from Agronomic Science Foundation and Mr. Nathan Ehresman, Ms. Rachel Leege, Ms. Emily Fuger and Ms. Rebecca Polk for serving as the Committee’s liaisons with the Societies.

Items Requiring Board Attention:

Members of the Committee:

Terrence Gardner (Chair)
Noemi Guindin (Member-ASA)
Jean McLain (Member-ASA)
Xiaobo Hou (Member-CSSA)
Teshome Regassa (Member-CSSA)
Khusi Tiwari (Member-CSSA)
Dedrick Davis (Member-SSSA)
Sandya Rani Kesoju (Member-SSSA)
Candiss Williams (Member-SSSA)
Susan Chapman (Staff Liaison)
Emily Fuger (Staff Liaison)

Prepared By:

Gardner, Terrence G.