WASHINGTON, June 26, 2013 – The USDA today announced the 10 members of the 2013 class of the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program.
The 10 fellows, highly accomplished staff, faculty, and administrators at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) from across the nation, were selected based on the compatibility of their interests with USDA mission areas, as well as the value their experiences will add to their institutions' educational capacities.
HSIs are accredited and degree-granting institutions of higher education with a full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more. Through partnerships fostered by the fellowship program, USDA and HSIs are better prepared to address educational challenges faced by the Hispanic community and to promote services and employment opportunities offered by USDA agencies while diversifying the Department's workforce.
The 16th class of the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship is divided into two categories, each specially tailored to meet the fellows' interests and provide them with an enriching experience. The Education Fellows experience first-hand the policymaking process by meeting with USDA personnel and connecting with federal agencies such as the Department of Education, Housing and Urban Development, and the National Science Foundation. The Science Fellows collaborate with leading scientists from USDA's Agricultural Research Service--one of the world's premier scientific organizations--and learn about state-of-the-art agricultural research.
The 2013 E. Kika De La Garza Fellows are:
Education Fellows - 5
Laura E. Avila, Glendale Community College, Glendale, AZ; Don Borges, Modesto Jr. College, Modesto, CA; Edward Beanes, Napa Valley College, Napa, CA; Jesse Ortiz, Woodland Community College, Woodland, CA; Claudia Mosqueda, Richard J. Daley Community College, Chicago, IL.
Science Fellows - 5
Luis Cabrales, California State University at Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA; Steven Ritter, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL; Alvaro Romero, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; Matias J. Cafaro, University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR; Teresa Patricia Feria, The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX.
For more information on the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship program, visit: www.hsi.usda.gov/HSIs/fellowship.htm
#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
