Faculty and staff of the SU and LSU Ag Center and Colleges of Ag participant in 2025 Louisiana Land-Grant Agricultural Summit
Baton Rouge, La. – Faculty and staff of the Southern University and LSU Ag Centers and Colleges of Agriculture participated in the 2025 Louisiana Land-Grant Agriculture Summit on the campus of LSU on December 15 and 16, 2025.
The two-day Summit included an Administrative Lunch with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Director Dr. Jaye L. Hamby. NIFA is the extramural funding agency for the USDA’s Research, Education and Economics Mission Area. Hamby has served as NIFA’s director since March 20, 2025.
The summit’s general session was held in the LSU Union Theatre. Drs. Renita Marshall and Tara Smith served as the MCs for the session.
Dr. Orlando F. McMeans, Chancellor-Dean of the SU Ag Center and the College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences (CAHES), also provided comments during the session and highlighted several SU Ag Center and CAHES programs and initiatives.
“This is very unique to have individuals from the two land-grant systems to come together,” said Dr. McMeans. “It’s an opportunity for us to not only come together but to share information, network, and to talk about how we can be better at fulfilling our land-grant mission. Which I call a mission mandate, and that is to serve individuals and the communities for the betterment, collective in Louisiana. Via the three-pong mission of education, extension, and research,” he added.
LSU Ag Center Vice President for Agriculture and Dean of the College of Agriculture, Matt Lee also spoke during the session.
Dr. Hamby served as the keynote speaker.
An awards ceremony recognizing outstanding faculty and staff from both campuses was held during the session. The following individuals from the Southern University Ag Center received awards:
Outstanding Academics Award:
Crystal Vance-Rogers, Ph.D., Program Leader of Plant Science and Urban Forestry and Assistant Professor, Agricultural Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences
Outstanding Extension Award:
Joshua B. McDonald, Program Director of EFNEP and Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Coordinator
Outstanding Research Award:
Lashunda Hodges, Ph.D., Research Professor for Soil & Plant Sciences and Industrial Hemp Researcher
Facilities Award:
Michelle Briscoe-Long, Special Assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor
Communication, Technology and Advancement Award:
Devender Rapolu, Ph.D., Network Database Admin and Web Specialist
Compliance Companion Award:
Lauryn Jackson, Electronic Content Development/Communications Specialist
Administrative Assistant Award:
Ashton Burkhalter, Program Assistant for the College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences’ Department of Agricultural Science and Technology
The summit concluded on December 16 with breakout sessions. Several SU Ag Center and College of Ag faculty and staff presented on research and extension topics throughout the day.
The bi-annual Louisiana Land-Grant Agriculture Summit provides an opportunity for the faculty and staff of the SU and LSU Ag Centers and Colleges of Agriculture to network and continue to collaborate in the areas of research, teaching, and extension.
