Overcoming hurricanes and a pandemic to complete doctoral research
Wilmelie Cruz-Marreno recently defended her thesis, “Using Underwater Video to Assess Epibethic Community Diversity, Species Abundance, and Density Estimates.” She has overcome unusual obstacles to reach her goals. Before the last sampling season of her research in Puerto Rico, hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the island two weeks apart from each other in September 2017. Now, at the end of her academic career, Cruz-Marreno has been challenged with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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USDA-backed study shows small farm success linked to networks
A four-year study of the social networks of small-scale and minority specialty-crop farmers in Maryland, Delaware and Tennessee has come to a close. The findings, recently reported in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development, show that farmers who play a prominent role in their network realize greater profits. Supported by a half-million dollar USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Capacity Building Grant, the research can help farming groups and agricultural support organizations leverage networks to enhance farmers’ success. It aligns with NIFA’s global food security challenge area, especially pertinent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Dear Graduates and Other Stakeholders,
 My warmest and most sincere congratulations to the SANS Spring 2020 graduates. Despite the challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, you completed your studies and are now ready for the next chapter of your lives. Your transition comes at a critical time when the nation and the world seeks new innovative ideas of how to solve the COVID-19 disease problem and to quickly and effectively implement the recovery process for the social and economic well-being of all. In a sense, this is what you have been preparing yourselves for – so go forth boldly, and change the world!
As summer approaches, ramping up research and extension is a top priority. While many activities have continued remotely, the entire team is eager to get back on track to address challenges facing Marylanders directly. Recently, USDA’s NIFA approved a $1.6 million dollar investment in an 1890 Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development, which will focus on workforce development and addressing transboundary challenges to food and nutritional security. We are excited about this new partnership that seeks to leverage the collective capacity across the 1890 universities.
Clearly things will not be the same, but I am impressed by the resilience and adaptability of the SANS Team to overcome the challenges we face together. With great hope and best wishes for a productive summer. . .
Sincerely, Moses T. Kairo
SANS Professor and Dean
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The health and well-being of our campus and the community is our highest priority. The University's Task Force is working diligently to stay informed of changing dynamics in the coronavirus outbreak.
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 1890 Center for Excellence
to be hosted at UMES
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture has invested $1.6 million to support the Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development. UMES will be among three Centers that will serve all 19 of the 1890 institutions.
The CEIED will leverage the collective capacity of the institutions and their domestic and international partners to develop and deliver interdisciplinary, multi-state, and integrated research, education and engagement initiatives to help address critical challenges in Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences.
The Center will award 12 competitive grants, half focused on supporting workforce development to fulfill the needs of government and industry for qualified personnel to operate in an increasingly global marketplace and the other half to address transboundary challenges in Food and Nutritional Security. The RFAs, one covering each thematic area, are now available. The applications will be open only to 1890 institutions and are due at 5 p,m, EST on June 30, 2020. |
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SANS students recognized at honors observance
UMES recognized top students for their achievements at what would have been its annual Honors Convocation. An overall Award of Excellence winner was selected from each of the university’s four academic schools along with an honoree from each of the departments within the schools.
Yasmin Roye (top) was the recipient of the Award of Excellence for the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences along with being named the recipient for the Department of Natural Sciences. Roye graduated May 15 with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.
Wade Wilkins (left), a senior majoring in general agricultural studies, received the award for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences. Wilkins is from Berlin, Maryland, where he lives on his third generation family farm.
Gabrielle Pinto (right) received the award for the Department of Human Ecology. Pinto recently graduated this spring from UMES with a bachelor’s in human ecology with a concentration in child development.
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Barnas receives doctorate in Food and Agricultural Sciences
Michael (Mike) Barnas of Delmar, Maryland, defended his thesis, “The Study of Broiler Gut Health with a Focus on Digesta Viscosity, Coccidiosis and Supplementation with Butyrate,” on April 10. Barnas is vice president of business development at AHPharma Inc. in Hebron, Maryland.
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UMES fashion student forges ahead with travel plans in face of pandemic
 UMES sophomore Aleecia Joof has big plans for next year despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Joof, who is concentrating in fashion merchandising at the university, plans on attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in the fall and studying at the Council on International Educational Exchange Global Institute in Paris next summer.
She is the recipient of a CIEE Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship.
Read more>
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Food and Agricultural Sciences major defends thesis
Wendy Attuquayefio, a doctoral graduate in Food and Agricultural Sciences at UMES, recently defended her thesis, “Effects of Heat Stress and Oxidized Diet on Productivity, Oxidative Stress, Postmortem Muscle Metabolism and Meat Quality of Broilers.”
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LMRCSC Scholars earn NOAA scholarships
Teemer Barry (above left) and Semaj Fielding (above right), NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center Scholars and UMES sophomores, were recipients of a prestigious STEM award. Both received the NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions Undergraduate Scholarship earlier this month.
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ACS hosts Project SEED virtual summer camp
For 13 years, UMES has connected Delmarva high school students interested in pursuing a degree in chemistry-related majors with the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED summer program. The program offers participants a fellowship and the potential for an ACS scholarship covering the first year of college tuition. SEED students are encouraged to enroll at UMES and pursue a major in the sciences.
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Munoz Ruiz receives master's in toxicology from UMES
Enid Munoz Ruiz, a native of Aguada, Puerto Rico, recently defended her thesis, “Assessment of Microplastics in Placopecten magellanicus.” Munoz Ruiz completed a master’s degree in toxicology with a concentration in aquatics from UMES.
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COVID-19 Funding Opportunities
NIFA Invests in Rapid Response Research on COVID-19 Impacts on Agriculture
 NIFA recently announced that it is investing in research on the impact of COVID-19 on American agriculture. Last week, NIFA opened its request for applications on research or extension activities that focus on developing and deploying rapid, reliable, and readily adoptable COVID-19 agricultural strategies across the food and agriculture enterprise. Through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program, NIFA will invest up to $9 million for research in the following areas: health and security of livestock; food and food processing; well-being of farm workforce, food service providers, and rural Americans; and economic security. Applications are due June 4, 2020.
“Keeping the agricultural workforce healthy and our nation’s food supply safe is a top priority for USDA,” said Scott Angle, NIFA Director. “The entire country depends on the jobs that these agricultural workers do, from farm to fork, to ensure a robust agricultural food supply. The systems that our agricultural workforce manages and the products they produce literally sustain both our bodies and our nation’s economy.” For more information, read the full NIFA announcement.
 Renewable Resources Extension Act-
National Focus Fund Projects (RREA-NFF)
The Renewable Resources Extension Act-National Focus Fund program provides funds for pilot projects that:
- Address emerging forest and rangeland resource issues, and
- Have national or regional relevancy, or
- Develop new and innovative projects that can be replicated at other institutions.
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Graduating senior makes strong showing at research symposium
University of Maryland Eastern Shore student Rhyan Knight received an honorable mention for her presentation at the University of New Hampshire’s Undergraduate Research Conference Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Symposium last month.
The annual conference was held virtually this year due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Knight, who is a NOAA Educational Partnership Program Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center Scholar, presented a pre-recorded talk on her poster titled, “Mercury Accumulation in the Great Bay Ecosystem - Links with Carbon and Sediment Size.”
Read More>
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New! Ingenuity, Spring 2020
The official research magazine of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.
In this edition of Ingenuity, you will find stories about research and key linkages we hold with our community. It means we care about what's important to you. From one story, you will learn how UMES is paving the way to a newly legalized hemp industry. And as usual, we like to tell you about outcomes concerning some of the activities of our students, faculty, alumni and Extension agents over the last year.
Read all about it ►
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 This is the fourth issue of Mixin' It Magazine and we are encouraging readers to engage in SELF CARE! This spring, we are focused on engaging in healthy activities, building self-esteem and preparing for the future. This self-care issue is filled with articles on exercising, organic foods, nail art and more.
Happy Reading!
UMES Department of Human Ecology |
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UMES Extension launched its e-newsletter Connections in November!
Subscribers will be privy to opportunities available to the public as well as those only available to our subscribers.
To get your copy, subscribe today!
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The NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) trains and graduates students from underrepresented communities in marine science for careers in research, management, and public policy that support the sustainable harvest and conservation of our nation's living marine resources. With its partner institutions, the LMRCSC conducts research on marine and estuarine systems congruent with the interests of NOAA Fisheries. The Center is supported by the NOAA Education Partnership Program with Minority-Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI). Click on the image to read its latest newsletter.
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SANS in the News
UMES Researchers Win Energy Innovation Research Funding
Salisbury Business Journal, April 27, 2020
COVID-19 prompts concern about meat shortages in Maryland with video,
WBFF TV news - Baltimore, April 27, 2020
CSU awarded part of $14 million for Ag scholarships
Xenia Gazette, April 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More Than $750000 for Food and Agricultural Science Scholarships ...
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, May 1, 2020
Research continues, pandemic notwithstanding
UMES.edu, May 2, 2020
Dept. of Agriculture Gives $14M in Grants to HBCUs
The Washington Informer, May 4, 2020
Webinar: SBA and other Loan and Grant Solutions for Agriculture Producers
University of Maryland Extension, May 15, 2020
‘Be strong. Be hopeful. Be brave.’
UMES.edu, May 15, 2020
UMES researcher busy working underground
American Farm Publications, Delmarva Farmer, May 22, 2020
Specialty grant to examine impact of integrating animals in crop rotations
AberdeenNews.com, May 24, 2020
Multistate project explores livestock grazing impacts on organic crops
Feedstuffs, May 26, 2020
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New Research Publications
Khanal, A. R., Tegegne, F., Goetz, S J., Li, L., Han, Y., Tubene, S., & Wetherill, A. (2020). Small and minority farmers’ knowledge and resource sharing networks, and farm sales: Findings from communities inTennessee, Maryland, and Delaware. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Advance online publication. DOI.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.012
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