Ingenuity

About the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences

Academics

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences offers personalized student attention, authentic research opportunities, experiential learning and state-of-the-art facilities to train tomorrow’s workforce as leaders in agriculture and science. Strong research and extension programs are integrated with the school’s academic programming.

Research

The UMES Agricultural Experiment Station within the School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences provides enhanced knowledge and technology to improve agriculture and food systems; enhance the quality of natural resources and the environment; and serve communities, families and consumers. Research is organized around: Agriculture and Food, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Human Health and Development, and Product Development. UMES is one of two land-grant institutions in Maryland that provide leadership for research in agriculture, food, biomedical science and natural resource conservation and use.

Extension

UMES Extension uses research-based knowledge to provide practical educational opportunities to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build better futures. Our programs specialize in: the Agriculture Law and Education Initiative, Alternative Crops, Community and Economic Development, Family Nutrition and Health, Food Safety, Horticulture and Fruits, Small Farms, Small Ruminants, and 4-H STEM & Youth Development.

Sans Academic Departments

Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences:

• Agribusiness Management (BS)

• Urban Forestry (BS)

• General Agriculture (BS)

• Agricultural Education

• Plant and Soil Science

• Animal and Poultry Science

• Business and Technology Option I

• Food and Agricultural Sciences (MS and Ph.D.)

Natural Sciences:

• Biochemistry (BS)

• Biology (BS)

• Chemistry (BS)

• Environmental Sciences (BS)

• Chemistry (MS)

• Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences (MS, PhD)

• Toxicology (MS, PhD)

Human Ecology:

• Human Ecology (BS) (Child Development/CHDE Online Option, Dietetics, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences Education

• Fashion Merchandising and Design (BS) (Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising/FIT Option, Fashion Design)

• Human Ecology (MS) (Child Development, Dietetics and Nutrition with Clinical and Non-Clinical Options, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fashion Merchandising)

• Dietetic Internship

LMRCSC

Ingenuity is the Research and Extension magazine of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. It is published yearly for alumni, students, stakeholders, clients and friends of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.

Administration

HEIDI M. ANDERSON, PH.D.

President

MOSES T. KAIRO, PH.D., DIC

Dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences

PAULINUS CHIGBU, PH.D.

Associate Dean For Research, Development & Graduate Education, professor and director, NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center

E. NELSON ESCOBAR, PH.D.

Associate Dean and Associate Administer for UMES Extension

JONATHAN CUMMING, PH.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Natural Sciences

GRACE NAMWAMBA, PH.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Human Ecology

STEPHAN L. TUBENE, PH.D.

Professor and Acting Chair, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences

Ingenuity Magazine

Editor-in-chief: Laura Benedict Sileo

Primary writer: Gail Stephens

Staff photographer: Todd Dudek

Cover photographer: Jesu Raj Pandya

Designer: Nicole Abresch, Piccolo Creative

The opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by the University or School.

UMES is an EEO/AA employer. For help accessing this publication, contact: ADA@umes.edu.

This work was supported in part by the Evans-Allen Program and other state appropriated funds.

It has been an outstanding year for the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences here at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Top 10 public HBCU.

With a wide range of programs spanning teaching, research and extension, SANS embodies UMES’ core mission as a top land-grant university.

I am pleased with the School’s efforts to develop the talent of students who will pursue careers in agriculture and science. These future industry leaders are earning degrees through experiential learning and research thanks to our esteemed and dedicated faculty.

On the research front, I am excited to see faculty and students enhance knowledge and technology on issues relevant to the Delmarva Peninsula and Maryland, with further implications to the nation and world. Their work takes place at the Paul S. Sarbanes Coastal Ecology Center; the Research, Extension and Teaching Farm; and campus laboratories.

I was honored to host Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller during her visit to campus in April, when she toured the site of the future AgREC building and realized our efforts to establish a veterinary school.

On our outreach, UMES Extension continues to bring research-based knowledge directly to people, families and communities. Extension specialists strengthen our community by teaching people everything from how to grow their agricultural business to eating and growing nutritious foods, along with food safety.

There are plenty of opportunities to make connections ahead. Ag Showcase will enter its third year this August. In November, the 20th annual Small Farms Conference will relay tools and strategies to increase farm profitability and promote sustainability. New for 2023, SANS and UMES Extension will host the inaugural Maryland Agritourism Conference.

All of this was made possible thanks to our many supporters including the Maryland Legislature and our federal partners such as the USDA, NOAA and NSF, as well as private entities.

SANS and UMES Extension will continue to grow to serve the changing needs of the stakeholders. I look forward to what the new school year holds.

Heidi M. Anderson, Ph.D. President

Dear Stakeholders,

On behalf of the students, faculty and staff in the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, which anchors UMES' land-grant mission, I am delighted to bring you greetings!

This edition of Ingenuity covers stories that speak to some of our activities in research, extension and teaching: our triumvirate mission. Our focus in these areas is driven by priorities identified by stakeholders. We deliberately match our unique strengths to ensure that federal, state and private sector investments in our programs are used in such a manner to deliver maximum outcomes. With this said, I invite you to provide feedback and suggestions that will allow us to continuously improve upon the delivery of our goals.

We are deeply grateful for the funding received from federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. We are equally thankful for support from the Maryland Legislature and private sector entities without which our work would not be possible.

I am also appreciative of your interest in our programs and hope that you find this issue of Ingenuity to be informative. Perhaps keep it handy to share with colleagues in your travels, or use it as a coffee table magazine!

Please keep in mind that the material covered here is just a snapshot of the many exciting things happening at UMES SANS.

Moses T. Kairo, Professor and Dean