Washington, D.C. – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced more than $1 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for Oregon State University (OSU).
“In my meetings throughout the state with Oregon’s agricultural sector, I’m always asking how I can support them do what they do best: grow things, add value and ship their products around the world,” Wyden said. “One thing I’m hearing is the need for a more skilled and diverse workforce. These awards will pave the way for students from Tribes and other backgrounds to become involved in preserving the food systems and natural resources that Oregonians depend on.”
“Every student deserves a quality education with support and access to resources that help ensure their success,” said Merkley. “These investments for Oregon State University will help to address disparities in participation in STEM-focused multicultural programs, support research and leadership for PhD fellows within the agricultural workforce, and help ensure Tribal students have the financial support and opportunities to achieve educational and workforce success. I am pleased to see federal investments for a new wave of well-prepared and diverse scholars.”
The USDA NIFA grants were awarded toOSU for the three following programs:
- The Multicultural Scholars Program, Training the Next Generation of Diverse Global Food and Agricultural System Leaders, will receive $250,000 to provide scholarships torecruit, engage, retain, mentor, and train multicultural scholars who will earn STEM-focused baccalaureate degrees from OSU College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS).
- The National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship program will receive $262,000 to provide relevant research and leadership training to outstanding PhD Fellows to address the national need for a highly trained, multicultural agricultural workforce that is exceptionally prepared for effective science communication, as well as interdisciplinary research, teaching, outreach, and professional practice.
- The New Beginnings for Tribal Students in Oregon program will receive $500,000 to assist Native American pre-college and college students attending OSU and Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) in experiential learning, internships, and financial support to increase student retention, graduation and workforce success rates for Native American students.
“There is a shortage of skilled college graduates to fill positions in agriculture, food, and natural resources areas. This shortage is especially evident in underrepresented communities. The US population is undergoing a rapid increase in minority college-age residents; however, enrollment, and especially persistence, of these students in colleges and universities still lags behind,” said Dr. Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez, Associate Dean of Academic Programs for the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University. “Our goal is to bridge this gap, providing scholarships to recruit, engage, retain, mentor, and train multicultural scholars from underrepresented communities that will help develop the larger society in terms of equity, economics and respect for the environment.”
“The forest sector, especially within the mass timber domain, is in great need of outstanding graduates who are well trained in research, innovation, and leadership,” said Dr. Arijit Sinha, Professor and JELD-WEN Chair in Wood Based Composites Science at Oregon State University. “This National Needs Fellowship project provides relevant research and leadership training to outstanding Fellows and enhances the future capacity of OSU to produce new graduates, especially from underrepresented minorities (URM), with skills and training needed to successfully fill existing voids. By attracting URM Fellows, this program contributes to diversification of the forest sector workforce.”
“This grant to support the New Beginnings for Tribal Students in Oregon program will allow OSU to continue working with the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians and Southwestern Oregon Community College by providing scholarships, culture camps, internship opportunities, and coordination support,” said Jeff Sherman-Duncan, Associate Vice Provost for Partnerships with Oregon State University Extension and Engagement. “We are excited to keep working with our Tribal and Native partners to grow meaningful collaborative programs and relationships.”
A web version of this release is here.
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