Major leadership role as head of the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center(PDF)
During last 16 years, I have been fortunate to work with dedicated interdisciplinary faculty, staff and students at the VFIC. I take great pride in the many achievements we have realized during my tenure as Associate Director (2002-2004) and Director (2005-to-date). A few relevant highlights of my accomplishments are listed below.
- In 2017, National Center of Excellence for Melons was approved by the USDA as a part of the SCRI-CAPS Grant due to historic success of leveraging of resources, strong partnership with external stakeholders, first of a kind multi-state courses and transdisciplinary scientists working together to address producer’s issues through consumer to farm approach.
- Collaborated with VFIC faculty, staff and students to develop and implement new strategic plans to increase VFIC resources, the numbers and diversity of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty, and to increase programmatic relevance and excellence.
- Enhanced communication between Department Head, VFIC Director and AgriLife administrators and other scholarly entities associated with the VFIC.
- Created an advancement and development plan that enabled a commitment of $1.8 million in foundation funds.
- Initiated the offering of endowment scholarships. For one of the scholarships, our goal is to raise $750,000 to support graduate students and to date $280,000 has been collected in 4 years. Enabled steady growth of another endowment.
- Effectively managed and responded to federal and state budget cuts in 2011, while at the same time securing operational funds from the state to sustain the VFIC.
- Facilitated submission by VFIC faculty of approximately $91 million in proposals for funding, which resulted in $13.1 million in external grants.
- Served as a member of the Texas Vegetable Association Board
- United Fresh Council Member-Food Safety and Technology (2015 to current).
- Hosted 8 congressional members/staffers, 117 industry, 134 academicians, 183 consumers and 375 students.
- Responsible for conducting VFIC Industry Advisory meetings and implementing suggestions.
- The number of peer-reviewed publications by VFIC scientists during my tenure as Director has been exceptional, with 310 peer-reviewed publications, 9 books, 28 editor-reviewed publications and 84 invited presentations.
- Supervisor- Two Research Professors, Administrative coordinator, five staff members
- Enabled providing support to VFIC faculty for 43 students in research and training. Thanks to dedicated supervision by VFIC faculty, 40 graduate students completed degrees and 25 undergraduate students were trained. Of these students, ~95% are employed.