Dear Stakeholders It has truly been a stellar year for the
of the University of Maryland College
School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences
Park to provide seamless programming to
(SANS). With a wide range of programs
Maryland’s citizens.
spanning teaching, research and extension,
On the research front, I am excited
SANS typifies UMES’ core mission as a
to see faculty and students investigating
top land-grant university. During the past
issues relevant to Maryland and the nation.
year, SANS has implemented many exciting
Their work spans from research on coastal
programs, some of which are covered
marine resources out of our laboratory
in this magazine. However, I wanted to
on the Atlantic Coast, to work on the
specifically mention a few that continue to
UMES Education and Demonstration
position UMES to be more effective in the
Farm and various laboratories on campus
delivery of its mission.
covering such important topics as: crop
First, I am pleased to see the School’s continued efforts to
development, poultry and small ruminants, food safety, pest
develop talent with its focus on B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs
management, nutrient management, and many others. I am
in several critical science disciplines. I was especially gratified
also delighted that we will soon begin construction of the new
to see the tremendous efforts by the team to get the Department
Agricultural Research and Education Center as well as the
of Human Ecology accredited by the American Association of
renovation of facilities on the Education and Demonstration
Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). While we await the
Farm.
final determination from AAFCS later this April, the process
I look forward to 2020 with much optimism; but before
allowed the Department to focus and sharpen its academic
I conclude, let me take this opportunity to thank our many
offerings – which is already benefitting students.
supporters, including the Maryland Legislature and our federal
I am also pleased with the work that has gone into the
partners such as USDA, NOAA, and NSF as well as a range of
establishment and re-imagining of UMES Extension. We have a
private entities. Let me assure you that the SANS and UMES
ways to go; but we are here now, and the future is bright. Along
teams are concerned about remaining current and relevant. And
with the expansion of the faculty and staff component within
it’s a good thing, because I feel it is our duty to do so all while
the unit will be an expansion of programs aimed at enhancing
growing students who will take up the agricultural banner in the
and improving the lives of the families and communities that
not so distant future.
surround us. For instance, the UMES Small Farm Program
You will find details about all that I’ve mentioned and more
implemented various educational outreach programs to a wide
within these pages. Know that even as you read, we are working
range of stakeholders, including offerings as part of its annual
to make all that is good in SANS better and what is better, best.
conference. Its 16th installment this past November attracted
Happy New Year to you, our stakeholders, and to my faculty,
nearly 170 attendees. The conference was preceded by a statewide
staff, and students . . . and Happy Reading!
Hemp Conference that brought more than 200 participants to
Heidi M. Anderson
UMES. I am also gratified that UMES Extension is working in concert with the University of Maryland Extension team out
2
UNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
, Ph.D.
President
