The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
2016 Spring Summer Newsletter
Welcome From the Dean
We are finishing one of the most memorable semesters ever for the Jordan College!
I am anxious to share with you all the great things going on.
On May 13 we ‘cut the ribbon’ on the $29.5 million Jordan Agricultural Research Center a project that broke ground nearly two years ago. The project was funded by a gift
from Bud, Dee and Lowell Jordan in 2009.
However, the story really started many years earlier at a GMC motorhome rally when
the Jordan family first heard about us from retired Fresno State agricultural business
professor Bob Glim and his wife Dorothy. They told their fellow rally participants
about all the exciting products and academic programs that we offer and a new organization
that had been started to support students and programs – the Ag One Foundation. The Jordans started by funding scholarships and eventually giving their amazing
gift to support agricultural research. They have played a vital role in the lives
of so many of our college’s students, staff and faculty.
We are also grateful to the center’s laboratory sponsors and partners that include
Bayer Crop Science, Earl and Beverly Knobloch, the late Dr. Harry B. Moordigian, Jr., Olam, and The Wonderful Company. Their generosity has given us the ability to continue to keep this building on the
cutting edge.
April brought waves of blue to campus – blue corduroy FFA jackets that is! The Jordan
College helped host another exciting FFA State Convention that saw a record high of more than 6,000 in attendance. There were more than 3,200
students (another record high) taking part in the 25 FFA Field Days on campus, too.
As I write this, we are preparing for our college convocation honoring 487 graduating students – our largest class ever! Among the group of graduates
are nine students who have been part of our first honors cohort. We are so proud of the success of this program and the amazing work that these students
accomplished this past year as they worked with their faculty mentors to find solutions
to real-world challenges in the fields of food, family and agriculture.
Memorial Day weekend marks the return of sweet corn to our Rue & Gwen Gibson Farm Market! I know I’ll see many of you in the market buying corn and, hopefully, other great
items, too. We’ve just hired a new manager, Jeremy Lewis, and he has big plans to
expand our line of student-produced products from our campus farm in new and exciting
ways. He comes to us from Whole Foods in Fresno where he had worked since October
2002 in the grocery, produce, frozen and prepared foods sections.
Coming in June, President Castro, his wife Mary, myself, Senior Development Director
Alcidia Gomes and Animal Sciences Faculty John Cordeiro will travel to the Azorean city of Angra de Heroismo on the island of Terceira. We will be finalizing an agreement with the agricultural
program at the University of the Azores to have our students participate in a variety
of agricultural education exchanges between the campuses. We thank the Tulare-Angra
Sister City Foundation for being the catalyst in getting this program going. The program
will allow students from both countries to experience diversity in agriculture while
also preparing to work in a global economy.
On a personal note, I want to thank everybody for all the kind words that I’ve received
since I was named permanent dean during National Agriculture Week in March. This year
is my 35th year as a member of the Fresno State family, and I’m proud to continue
to be part of the Jordan College and, with President Castro’s tremendous support,
make a difference in the nation’s leading agriculture area.
Thanks to all of you – alumni, friends, donors, partners and supporters – for all
that you do for us. We sincerely appreciate you and look forward to continuing to
work with you in the 2016-17 academic year!
Sandra Witte
Dean, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
FACILITIES
Jordan Agricultural Research Center showcased to public (photos)
The $24.5 million Jordan Agricultural Research Center opened its doors (story) on May 13, 2016, and the College also announced new lab sponsorships by The Wonderful Company (story) and Bayer Crop Science (story).
STUDENTS
Williamson & Beebe honored as Jordan College Dean’s Medalists
Viticulture and Enology graduate student Andrew Beebe and senior Viticulture and Food
Science double major Kelli Williamson were named the Jordan College’s Dean’s Medalists.
(click for student profiles).
RESEARCH
University receives $5 million grant to promote water and energy innovation
Spearheaded by its International Center for Water Technology, Fresno State has been
awarded a California Energy Commission grant to establish the Central Valley Energy
Innovation Cluster (read more).
PROGRAM
First Jordan College Honors Cohort presents research
The nine-member first Jordan College Honors Student Cohort presented results from
their individual research projects conducted the past year under the guidance of their
faculty mentors (read more).
VIDEO
Student Spotlight: Carolyn Chase
The honors cohort member is one of the Jordan College’s most dynamic students with
her food science academic focus, family and military service (click to watch).
CLUBS
Pre-Vet students shining in the classroom and the community
The Fresno State Pre-Vet Club is one of the College’s most active with its many community
and professional enhancement events (read more).
DEPARTMENT
Industrial Technology expands its focus and curriculum (photos)
The Industrial Technology Department is continuing to meet the profession’s demand
for graduates with additional process and system management skills (read more).
INDUSTRY
Child, Family & Consumer Sciences internship class prepares students for future
Dr. Amber Hammons and the Child and Family Sevices 193 Internship Class are providing
students with key professional experiences before they graduate (read more).
COMPETITION
Soil Judging Team caps successful first year (photos)
Directed by area soil scientists and volunteer coaches Michael Sowers and Dr. Phil
Smith, the Jordan College’s Soil Judging Team competed at the National Soil Judging
Contest in Manhattan, Kansas in April (read more).
ALUMNI
Agricultural Business graduate carries on tradition
Madera native and 1992 Fresno State alumnus Dr. Mark Manfredo admits that he owes
a lot to his former agricultural business professors whose teaching and mentorship
led him on a similar career path. He currently serves as Arizona State University’s
Director of the Morrison School of Agribusiness and Associate Dean for the W.P. Carey
School of Business yet also still proudly considers himself a Bulldog (read interview).
INTERNATIONAL
FLAD grant to support Azorean exchange program (photos)
Lisbon-based Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) gave $49,000 to launch a
partnership between Fresno State and the University of the Azores to encourage an
agricultural student exchange (read more).
OUTREACH
Ag One hosts 45th Turf Day Golf Tourney
View pictures from the annual event that was hosted by title sponsor Willowood USA
at the Belmont Country Club and brought together 136 Jordan College alumni, friends
and industry sponsors. (photos)
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