Agro-HBCU Leaders Address Congress This Week
1890 Land Grant HBCU presidents press House Agriculture Committee to help improve infrastructure and research at agriculture-focused HBCUs and support Black students pursuing agriculture science
Publisher’s Note
The House Agriculture Committee will convene a hearing on Wednesday, June 16th at 10am ET with several Presidents of the 1890 Universities. The hearing, titled 1890 Land Grant Institutions: Investing for Agricultural Resiliency, Equity, and Global Impact, will explore the important role the 1890 Universities - or “Agro-HBCUs” - are playing in their respective communities and the investments they need to educate students to meet challenges and opportunities in the 21st Century.
Witness participants will include Dr. Makola Abdullah, Chair of the 1890 Council of Presidents and President of Virginia State University; Dr. Paul Jones, Vice Chair of the 1890 Council of Presidents and President of Fort Valley State University; Dr. Heidi Anderson, President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University. All of the Presidents are members of the Council Executive Committee. Dr. Orlando McMeans, Chancellor-Dean at Southern University will also participate. The hearing will also include a video presentation from several other 1890 Presidents and Chancellors.
“I want to thank Chairman Scott, the members of the House Agriculture Committee and all of the members of Congress for recognizing the critical role we are playing in our communities,” said President Abdullah. “Our history of progress over the past 130 plus years since our institutions were founded is extraordinary. Our engagement with Congress over these last several years continues to reap further progress and we are looking forward to working with Congress on our infrastructure needs, covid recovery and response, climate change, broadband expansion, socially disadvantaged farmers, student scholarships and many other issues.”
“Tomorrow’s hearing brings us once again before key decision makers to help shape our future together,” said Vice Chairman Jones. “We are slowly recovering from the pandemic but the list of challenges and opportunities are great. We welcome working with our federal partners to address the needs of the rural, urban and suburban areas that we serve.”