twg.csusystem.eduTogether We Grow | Feeding the Future

WHAT WE DO WHO WE ARE OUR MEMBERS 2022 ANNUAL REPORT NEWS & EVENTS LATEST NEWS CONNECT CONFERENCE & ANNUAL MEETING GET INVOLVED WHY AG AND FOOD NEED YOU FIND A CAREER IN AG & FOOD WORK WITH US CONTACT US DONATE Menu ABOUT WHAT WE DO WHO WE ARE OUR MEMBERS 2022 ANNUAL REPORT NEWS & EVENTS LATEST NEWS CONNECT CONFERENCE & ANNUAL MEETING GET INVOLVED WHY AG AND FOOD NEED YOU FIND A CAREER IN AG & FOOD WORK WITH US CONTACT US DONATE TOGETHER WE GROW Together We Grow is a consortium of some of the world’s largest agribusiness and food interests — major agricultural commodities and food companies, educational institutions, government agencies, and national nonprofits — focused on building the workforce of tomorrow and ensuring that the workforce is skilled, diverse, and inclusive. Play Video Together We Grow started in 2016, when Michael D’Ambrose — who led the HR function for ADM — and Secretary Tom Vilsack — who is currently serving as Secretary of Agriculture in President Joe Biden’s administration and served for 8 years under President Barack Obama — brought the agriculture industry together to think about the state of the world in 2050. Leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government, higher education, and agribusiness realized that to address the monumental challenge of feeding a rapidly growing global population with fewer resources, they would need to work together. Since 2016, Together We Grow’s members have shared best practices and data, and made collaborative investments to build a more skilled, diverse, and inclusive workforce for the U.S. food and agriculture industry, in order to welcome the innovation needed to feed the world for generations to come. Connect with Together We Grow on social! Facebook Twitter Tiktok Instagram Linkedin Flickr 2gthrwegrow Hear from Dr. Grant Lee Ermis and what makes him f One of our favorite things to hear about, is why i There are so many different ways to join the world There are many things that can help you grow and b Load More Follow on Instagram Together We Grow + CSU Spur Together We Grow is headquartered at CSU Spur , a new public-facing campus in Denver, Colorado. The Colorado State University System brings the resources of its three higher education institutions (CSU in Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global) to CSU Spur, creating an inclusive and inspirational place that is open to all learners. Through science-on-display, research on-site, and local and global partners, CSU Spur is focused on connecting rural and urban communities, bringing foremost experts together to research the world’s most pressing problems, and inspiring the next generation to take on roles in water, food, and health. CSU Spur is not only mission-aligned for Together We Grow but it also provides an opportunity to engage with youth, industry, community, and research — all under one roof. Facebook Twitter Tiktok Instagram Linkedin Flickr SUBSCRIBE DONATE DR. BILLIE GRANT Born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, Dr. Billie Grant, currently serves as the Career and Workforce Development (CWD) Coordinator at Tuskegee University. She has many years in education from K-12 to higher education, in varying capacities. Her work in education from 8th grade teacher to Retention Coordinator, Academic Advisor, Adjunct Professor, CWD Coordinator, and as a Substitute Teacher, has provided a diversified perspective of the importance of education. She likens it to fire, water, and air, they are essentials to life. Dr. Grant earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee University, a Master of Science from Louisiana State University, and a Doctorate of Education from Argosy University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading biographies, autobiographies, and self help books. Do Audibles count? Dr. Grant is passionate about assisting people create a vision even without seeing the full picture. DR. ANTONIO McLAREN In April 2021, Dr. Antonio McLaren joined the 1890 Universities Foundation as the Vice President for Program Innovation and Implementation. In this role, he assists in the mobilization of resources to facilitate broad-based educational and outreach programs, initiatives, and approaches across the 1890 land-grant institutions to help them respond to new/emerging opportunities and challenges in the 21st century. Prior to this appointment, Dr. McLaren worked for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as a National Program Leader between 2015 and 2020. In this role, he provided national leadership, management, and support for NIFA’s 1890 programs portfolio, which was valued at over $180 million in annual federal funds across 6 programs. Previously, between 2011 and 2015, Dr. McLaren worked for USDA’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach as the USDA/1890 Program Liaison at Virginia State University (VSU). In that role, he worked to advance VSU’s 1890 land-grant programs by emphasizing outreach to the university and surrounding community, and recruitment of students to VSU’s College of Agriculture. In 2003 to 2011, Dr. McLaren worked as a USDA/NIFA program specialist – providing support for competitive programs that targeted limited-resource and underserved farmers and producers. In all, he has more than 22 years of federal service – all with USDA. Dr. McLaren was selected as a USDA/1890 National Scholar in 1997. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business/Economics in 2001, and his Master of Arts degree in Economics and Finance in 2003 – both from Virginia State University. In May 2015, he graduated with a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. McLaren was a recipient of NIFA’s A.J. Dye Diversity Award in 2009, and APLU’s inaugural 1890 Universities Career Exemplar Award in 2015. ELIAS G. QUIÑONEZ Elias G. Quiñonez is the Manager of Student Life and Diversity at Colorado State University, College of Agricultural Sciences. He is the first in his family of 12 siblings to complete college. He has a masters in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Higher Education and Student Affairs and in his 5 th year of the Higher Education Leadership doctoral program at CSU. He is the advisor to CSU’s MANRRS Chapter. He has 14 years’ experience in higher education advocating for underrepresented students in higher education. REBECCA POPARA Rebecca Popara is the Program Associate of International Agriculture with CSU Spur, part of the CSU System. She supports International Agriculture programs through partnership development, communications, and budgetary and project management. Rebecca received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, Spanish, and International Studies with a Concentration in International Relations from Gonzaga University. She is pursuing a Master’s in Media and Communication Management from CSU Online. Rebecca came to CSUS from the Colorado Governor’s Office and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, where she worked on special projects and initiatives as an Executive Assistant and Speechwriting Intern. JANELLE DURAY Janelle Duray has over fifteen years of experience in education and workforce development consulting and nonprofit management. She serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Jobs for America’s Graduates, a national nonprofit that has served 1.5 million youth since its inception 40+ years ago, and currently serves 75,000 youth across 1,500 communities. In her role, Janelle oversees JAG’s internal and external efforts and collaborates with national and state public and private sector leaders, to provide critical services to youth and young adults through the JAG programming. Janelle has served in many roles at JAG since 2012. In January 2020, she was named Executive Vice President and subsequently led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic making critical investments in technology, student engagement programming, Federal...