office of partnerships and public engagement

Herminia Gomez serves as a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) liaison, working closely with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the Northeast. HSIs are colleges and universities where the total Hispanic enrollment is at least 25% of the total student population. USDA partners with these institutions to connect students, faculty and staff with professional development, workforce development and educational opportunities.

Once again, the summer break came and went in a blink of an eye. As we enter the time of year when students return to the classroom, all of us at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offer encouragement at every step of the journey.

When Kiera Sherrod was young, her grandfather often came to her house in Albany, Georgia to plant crops in her parents’ backyard for her family to maintain and harvest. This ritual also sparked the beginning of his granddaughter’s interest in agriculture.

Nichole Espineli is studying for her master’s degree at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her determination, borne from her personal experience with food insecurity, led her to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) internship this past summer with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Vanessa Valencia is a recent graduate from Oregon State University who majored in marketing. She is one of 14 students accepted into the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) High School Equivalency Program (HEP)/College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) internship program.

In Miami, crops grow 365 days a year. This fact spurred Dr. Maruthi Sridhar Balaji Bhaskar of Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida, to take action to help his students. “We have lots of interest in agriculture here,” said Bhaskar, an associate professor in the FIU Department of Earth and Environment. “I want my students to know what different opportunities are available to them, especially with USDA.”

Yasmin Miranda-Mandujano is one of 14 students chosen for an internship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) High School Equivalency Program/College Assistance Migrant Program (HEP/CAMP). Yasmin is a sophomore at Madera Community College in California, majoring in business administration.

Dominique Smith recently graduated from Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences with a concentration in agribusiness. She recently accepted a permanent position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and credits her experience in the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program in helping her secure the position.

On July 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) celebrates National Intern Day, a day to thank and honor all our hardworking interns. Interns play a vital role in the workforce and bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and enthusiasm to the dozens of USDA agencies and offices that they support.

Veterans Tsiltiyah Fogle and her husband Charles Fogle have transitioned from military service to a new mission: serving their community and helping those in need. For nearly two years, Tsiltiyah has been the driving force behind the eight-acre Ephrata Farm, just outside Racine, Wisconsin. Here they grow and sell organic vegetables and fruits and raise chickens, all with the aim of giving back to the community.