Latinos in Agriculture Leaders Conference

Plant Science Associate Professor Eileen Cullen attended the fourth annual Latinos in Agriculture Leaders Conference last October in Grapevine, Texas.

The annual conference provides a national platform to discuss how to transform the Latino agricultural workforce of the future and approaches to improving Latino representation in agriculture by connecting with industry stakeholders.

It also focuses on student professional development and recruiting students into agriculture, food, natural resources, and life sciences careers. About 200 people attended, half of which were students.

Among the speakers at the conference were Anne Alonzo, administrator for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, and Roger Mireles, assistant deputy administrator with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

Topics covered included navigating academic and professional expectations, building your professional identity and brand, careers in agricultural extension and non-traditional careers in agriculture.

“The high level of interaction between student and professional attendees was impressive. Conference organizers create a supportive and dynamic environment where conference attendees and speakers seamlessly network and socialize,” Cullen said. “Students interacted as future leaders alongside established professional conference attendees.”

Cal Poly Pomona students interested in attending the 2015 conference can learn more by visiting www.latinosinagriculture.org. The conference organizers have a scholarship program that covers students’ cost of registration, meals, lodging and conference materials.