** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** TO SOLVE COMPLEX FOOD SYSTEM CHALLENGES AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THERE IS A NEED FOR AGRICULTURAL GRADUATES WHO HAVE TECHNICAL COMPETENCE BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY. IN ORDER TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SKILLED PROFESSIONALS AND INCREASE MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE, WE PROPOSE TO IMPROVE UPON AND EXPAND OUR SUCCESSFUL AGROECOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM IN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION (ASPIRE) FOR DIVERSITY REEU PROGRAM. WE WILL RECRUIT 50 STUDENTS, 10 PER YEAR FOR 5 YEARS WITH AT LEAST 50% WOMEN AND AT LEAST 50% FROM TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS TO PARTICIPATE IN A 10-WEEK PAID SUMMER PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 5 MAIN ACTIVITIES COMPRISING: 1) DIVERSE FOOD AND FARM TOURS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA; 2) FACULTY-MENTORED RESEARCH TRAINING; 3) TIERED MENTORSHIP AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES; 4) INTEGRATED EXTENSION ACTIVITIES; AND 5) PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURE CAREER EXPLORATION. ENGAGING DIVERSE UNDERGRADUATES IN HANDS-ON, CUTTING-EDGE AGROECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH WHILE PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING WILL INCREASE STUDENT INTERESTS AND CAPACITY TO PURSUE CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE. OUR PREVIOUS SUCCESS AND STRONG PROJECT TEAM OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS IN AGROECOLOGY, ROBUST STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FARMING SYSTEMS (CEFS), COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, AND RESOURCES AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY WILL ENSURE A QUICK START AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. THE INTERNSHIP WILL BE LED BY CEFS, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NC STATE, NC AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY, AND NC DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

Investigators