The University of Arizona, New Mexico State University and Santa Fe Community College have partnered to receive a grant from USDA-NIFA focused on preparing the Next Generation of professional scientists for various agencies within the USDA. Surveys have reported that most agencies within the USDA (and other Federal Departments) rarely reflect American society. The numbers of Hispanic, Black, Native American and women are significantly lower in the professional ranks than in our general population. This Next-Gen grant will specifically address these shortages through a focused program recruiting young people to consider education in fisheries and aquaculture science and then supporting their education with scholarships, internships and introductions to working professionals.
The program will start at the high school level with close coordination with Future Farmer of America and other agricultural and natural resource programs taught in Arizona and New Mexico high schools. The community college and university faculty will meet with high school instructors to identify promising students who will be informed about the opportunity to receive financial and personal support while pursuing fisheries and aquaculture focused curriculum at community college and university. Scholarships, work-study, and internships will be used to facilitate their path through 2+2 (community college to university) or 4-year university degree programs. There are also funds for capacity building within the three academic institutions to accommodate additional students and update equipment and supplies. The grant will also support a small number of graduate students focused on areas of identified shortages in professional USDA staff.
USDA agencies looking for increased diversity include the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agriculture Research Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Forest Service, Food and Nutrition Service, FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Division of Seafood Safety, and Natural Resources Conservation Service. While USDA professionals will be our target it is obvious that other Federal agencies also hire professionals in aquaculture and fisheries including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, National Marine Fisheries Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Environmental Protection Agency. Of course, Arizona Game and Fish and New Mexico Fish and Game also hire fisheries professionals.
The grant program is being supported with industry in-kind contributions with farms and hatcheries offering to host interns for summer work. This kind of real world experience will be especially important as these young professionals will be able to graduate and contribute their professional duties with USDA from their first day on the job.