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Posts Tagged: Glenda Humiston

2024 has been an extraordinary year

Dear UC ANR Colleagues:

Glenda 2018 FAVE

For everyone across UC ANR, 2024 has been an extraordinary year of research and extension activities that have made a true difference in so many lives. I can never thank you enough for everything you do for our communities – and for our colleagues! It is such a pleasure and inspiration to work alongside our outstanding statewide program and institute teams; our fantastic community educators; our phenomenal advisors, specialists and Agricultural Experiment Station faculty; and – of course – our amazing administrative and support staff who fuel our efforts. 

Your work continues to raise the visibility of and respect for UC ANR within UC, throughout the state and beyond, bringing us new partners to achieve shared goals. 

To all of you who bring such passion and energy to our mission: I wish you many opportunities to recharge during the break, with much warmth, cheer and joy alongside your family and friends!

Happy holidays and best wishes for an even better 2025,

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

Posted on Monday, December 23, 2024 at 8:18 AM

UC ANR identifies its priority areas in new Strategic Vision 2040

Document includes refreshed vision and mission, outlines challenges where UC ANR can make impact

Vice President Glenda Humiston and the Strategic Visioning Committee are pleased to announce the release of the UC ANR Strategic Vision 2040, which will guide our work, structure and resource allocation to optimize and align our research, programs and partnerships over the next 15 years.

The UC ANR Strategic Vision 2040 represents a blueprint for UC ANR over the next 15 years.

The document is the result of a 15-month process, during which the committee synthesized thousands of comments and feedback from hundreds of UC ANR employees and community members, including agency staff, elected officials, nonprofit groups, California Tribes, industry partners, farmers and producers.

“The Strategic Vision 2040 represents a reaffirmation of UC ANR's commitment to serve as a catalyst for positive change – cultivating, co-creating and sharing science-based solutions on a wide range of issues,” Humiston said. “I want to personally thank the Strategic Visioning Committee and everyone who contributed to creating this truly grassroots document that shows where we can make a real difference for our state, nation and world.”

The visioning process produced a refreshed vision and mission for UC ANR:

Our Vision: UC ANR will be valued in every California community for meaningful engagement and making a positive impact in people's lives.

Our Mission: UC ANR cultivates thriving communities, sustainable agriculture, resilient ecosystems, and economic prosperity in California through development and sharing of equitable and collaborative science-based solutions that have national and global impact.

This diagram shows the three core areas with four other challenges overarching that research and extension work.

In addition, the extensive community input helped the committee identify seven distinct California challenges as priority areas in which UC ANR can make a significant impact.

On top of our core areas of Agriculture and Food Systems, Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes, and Thriving People and Communities, the Strategic Vision 2040 document lists four issues that overarch all our research and extension work: Climate Change; Innovation; Regulations, Policy and Compliance; and Systemic Inequities.

A team gathered Oct. 30-31 in Davis to kick off a process that will operationalize the Strategic Vision 2040.

The Strategic Vision 2040 document is not intended to be a full strategic plan. This week, a new committee kicked off a series of meetings to develop UC ANR's 2025-2030 Strategic Framework with specific goals, objectives, metrics and deliverables designed to operationalize the Vision.

Posted on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 10:35 AM
Focus Area Tags: 4-H, Agriculture, Economic Development, Environment, Family, Food, Health, Innovation, Natural Resources, Pest Management, Yard & Garden

UC ANR to strengthen California agriculture through Mediterranean partnerships

From left, Atef Swelam, Glenda Humiston, UN-FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol, Brent Hales and Ashraf El-kereamy. The UC ANR leaders and the former Indiana farmer discussed potential collaborations.

In October, Vice President Glenda Humiston, Associate Vice President Brent Hales, and Research and Extension Center directors Ashraf El-kereamy and Atef Swelam attended three global food and agriculture events in Italy, met with key leaders of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), and signed important research agreements in Jordan.

Growing partnerships in the region and exchanging knowledge and innovations can aid California producers in adapting to changes and volatility in the state's renowned Mediterranean climate. Because they must address many of the same challenges facing their counterparts in Europe and the Middle East, joint research and collaborating on solutions would benefit all.

UN-FAO Director General Qu Dongyu posted on X about meeting with Humiston.

In Rome, the UCANR leaders met UN-FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol and the directors of the technical departments in the UN-FAO headquarters. They discussed potential collaborations on enhancing the agrifood system, conserving natural resources, fostering food security and building the resilience of agriculture-based communities.

The delegation also met with Ellen Luger, the Minister Counselor of Agriculture, and Giulia Soffiantini, agricultural specialist, both for the US Mission to the UN Agencies, and discussed collaboration.

Giulia Soffiantini, left, and Ellen Luger, center, both from the US Mission to the UN Agencies, met with Humiston, Hales and Swelam.

UC ANR leaders also met Executive Secretary Hildegard Lingnau of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAiR) and discussed the co-creation, access, transformation and use of agri-food knowledge. Humiston and Lingnau signed a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, that will connect UC ANR with GFAiR's global network of research organizations to help bring to California new knowledge and technologies from different parts of the world. At the same time, other regions can benefit from UC ANR research and innovations.

GFAiR's Hildegard Lingnau, left, and Humiston signed an MOU that will connect UC ANR with GFAiR's global network of research organizations.

In conjunction with the World Food Forum and GFAiR, the UCANR delegation held an interactive event to showcase UC ANR's Cooperative Extension and Research and Extension Center models. Humiston presented UCANR's vision, mission and structure, explaining how UCCE scientists engage stakeholders, working hand-in-hand with them on research at the farm level and getting feedback to upgrade, update and adapt.

Glenda spoke with World Food Forum participants.

Swelam and El-kereamy also explained how RECs can be hubs for training on topics such as irrigation water management, soil health and salinity control, pest and disease management, orchard systems, conservation agriculture, postharvest practices and more.

In Jordan, Humiston and AARINENA’s Rida Shibli signed agreements for scholar exchanges and joint research.

ANR leadership and academics Khaled Bali and Mohammad Yaghmour then traveled to Amman, Jordan, where they met with University of Jordan President Nathir Obeidat, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Ayed Al-Abdallat and the Executive Secretary of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) Rida Shibli.

FAO in Jordan posted about their representative Nabil Assaf meeting with Hales and other UC ANR leaders.

Humiston and Hales signed agreements for scholar exchanges and opportunities to conduct joint research on a host of critical topics, such as optimizing agricultural practices in the water-scarce environments we have in common. In addition to meeting with Nabil Assaf, FAO representative in Jordan, and his assistant Wafaa Ramadena, UC ANR leadership met with the Ministry of Agriculture of Jordan to share insights on UC ANR's unique research-extension-education model.

The mission concluded with an irrigation water management for orchard systems workshop sponsored by the FAO office in Jordan and organized by Khaled Bali, UCCE irrigation water management specialist, and Mohammad Yaghmour, UCCE orchard systems advisor. The workshop was well-attended by 65 participants, including farmers, students, academics, research and extension staff, and representatives from funding agencies.

“Our mission really underscored for me the complex, interconnected nature of so many challenges related to agriculture and natural resources, as well as the need to seek out the latest research and best practices from across the globe,” Humiston said. “While UC ANR certainly has much to share about our innovations and Cooperative Extension model, we have just as much to learn from our international partners – which will ultimately benefit communities here at home.”

From left, Mohammad Yaghmour, Khaled Bali, Hales, JAFCO host, Humiston, JAFCO host, Swelam and El-kereamy took a tour of JAFCO (Jannat Adan Farms Company), located in the Jordan Valley, below sea level. They saw research plots of mango, dragonfruit and grapes.
From left, Mohammad Yaghmour, Khaled Bali, Hales, JAFCO host, Humiston, JAFCO host, Swelam and El-kereamy took a tour of JAFCO (Jannat Adan Farms Company), located in the Jordan Valley, below sea level. They saw research plots of mango, dragonfruit and grapes.

Eight people stand under a sign that reads: JAFCO farm map: mango, dragon fruit 3, engineers house, packing house, grape (prime) and mango.

Posted on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 8:23 AM

Celebration Corner

Humiston wins CUCSA leadership award, reappointed to state ag board 

Glenda Humiston

Vice President Glenda Humiston was recently honored with the Outstanding Senior Leadership Award from CUCSA, the Council of UC Staff Assemblies. The award recognizes senior-level leaders in the system who are supportive and inclusive of UC staff and who encourage equity, diversity, inclusion and community. 

Working with UC ANR Staff Assembly Council members, 2023-24 UC ANR CUCSA delegates Shirley Salado and Christine Davidson nominated Humiston for the award. They presented their nomination during the winter quarter CUCSA meeting at UC San Diego, Feb. 28-March 1.

After presentation of nominations by CUCSA delegates from across the UC system, the delegates voted on recipients for the Outstanding Senior Leadership Award, as well as the Kevin McCauley Outstanding Staff Award, Outstanding Board Member Award and Outstanding Alumni Award.

"Glenda authorized and initiated ANR's first Staff Assembly Council in 2015 and has been a tremendous supporter throughout its history," Salado said. "She has increased SAC's budget for a variety of programs that provide tremendous benefit to our staff, from the Wellness Reimbursement program to the Employee Experience and Engagement Challenge to the Educational Reimbursement Program." 

Although he didn't win, UC ANR Staff Assembly Council Chair Scott Brayton was nominated for the Outstanding Board Member Award, in recognition of his tremendous record of service.

"Scott shows genuine care and appreciation for ANR Staff Assembly, as he is always thinking about its past and its future," Davidson said. "He is always finding opportunities to recognize past officers and volunteers, recruiting potential new members for the Council and making himself available to all Council members and staff."

In more good news, Governor Gavin Newsom has reappointed Humiston to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, where she has served since 2022. Humiston has been UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources since 2015. She was California state director for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2009 to 2015. 

ANR wins gold award for educational advertising 

Brooke Latack is featured in the “Improving Lives in California” social media campaign.

Strategic Communications won a gold award for ANR's “Improving Lives in California” social media campaign in the 39th Annual Educational Advertising Awards.  

The “Improving Lives in California' campaign” is designed to showcase ANR research and those who deliver it by featuring compelling content and UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists. The campaign targets Californians interested in agriculture, pests, environment, wildfire, water, youth development and nutrition with paid campaigns and organic posts on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

The campaign's strategic emphasis on showcasing employees within the narrative of research efforts enhances the UC ANR brand identity and positions the organization as a collaborative pioneer in innovation. This comprehensive approach leverages the power of social media to extend reach, foster engagement, and effectively serve our online community.

The EduAdAWARDS, dedicated to recognizing excellence in educational marketing and advertising, attracted entries from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools nationwide, including UC Davis and UC San Diego, competing across 54 categories. 

Carlos Crisosto

Crisosto wins journal award 

Carlos Crisosto, UC Cooperative Extension specialist based in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, won an “Editor's Choice” award for a paper about plums.

Crisosto's article describing how to measure firmness for optimum harvest, plus steps to ensure postharvest deliciousness and a proposed consumer quality index, was published in the journal Horticulturae. In February, the article won the journal's Editor's Choice award. 

Read more about the article at https://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/crisosto-plums.

Warner to present SFREC oak research at international symposium

Andrea Warner, staff research associate at the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, recently has been invited to present at the International Oak Symposium in October in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her abstract titled “Best Practices for Regeneration of California Blue Oaks (Quercus douglasii)” will highlight the findings from an oak regeneration project that started in 2019 at SFREC.

Andrea Warner
SFREC has dedicated 44 acres of previously cleared rangeland to researching best practices for blue oak regeneration, taking the effects of irrigation, weed mitigation strategies, various shelter types and seedling source into consideration with approximately 6,500 individual planting sites. 

The International Oak Symposium provides a platform to exchange information and build collaborations around the best available science and technology on oak ecology and management for a global audience. The meeting will provide innovative and progressive formats to deliver and exchange information and foster collaborations between researchers and practitioners.

“We are excited to have Andrea present the work being done at SFREC on an international level to represent UCANR and connect with other researchers in the natural resources field from around the globe,” said Dustin Flavell, SFREC superintendent and interim director.

First 5 Imperial releases Farm Smart videos

Farm Smart hosted another successful Farm-to-Preschool Festival that brought over 1,000 participants, 35 community resource tables, and over 100 volunteers to Desert Research and Extension Center this past winter, said Jairo Diaz, DREC director.

“Thanks to our staff for supporting this large and complex event and maintaining the vegetable garden,” said Diaz. 

First 5 Imperial, which funded the festival, produced two videos: Farm to Preschool Festival 2024 and UC-Farm Smart - Harvest Day 2024.

 

Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 12:48 AM

Celebration Corner

Editor's note: This new monthly feature provides an opportunity to recognize UC ANR colleagues and teams. Send your shout-outs to contentpipeline@ucanr.edu

From left, Morgan Doran, Supervisor Angel Barajas, Rachael Long, Margaret Lloyd and Susan Ellsworth. Top row from left, Supervisors Jim Provenza, Lucas Frerichs and Oscar Villegas.

Long honored by Yolo County supervisors

Yolo County Supervisor Angel Barajas presented Rachael Long, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor, with a resolution recognizing the valuable research she has contributed to Yolo County farmers over her 37-year UC ANR career. Supervisors Jim Provenza, Lucas Frerichs and Oscar Villegas joined Barajas in thanking Long for her service. Susan Ellsworth, UCCE Capitol Corridor director, and UCCE advisors Morgan Doran and Margaret Lloyd attended the ceremony on Sept. 26.

Read about Long's career at https://bit.ly/3rkowlR.

Humiston receives Excellence in Leadership Award

Glenda Humiston, center, received the Excellence in Leadership Award at the Ag Innovation Annual Conference.

Vice President Glenda Humiston was honored with the 2023 Experiment Station Section Excellence in Leadership Award for the Western Region. The award is presented to leaders who personify the highest level of excellence by enhancing the cause and performance of the regional associations and ESS in achieving their missions and the Land-Grant ideal. 

The award, which was announced in April, was presented to Humiston on Sept. 26 at the Ag Innovation Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

FIRA attracts more than 2,000 participants

UC ANR Chief Innovation Officer Gabe Youtsey and the team at The VINE did a phenomenal job partnering with Western Growers and Global Organization for Agricultural Robotics (GOFAR) to organize the second annual FIRA USA. More than 2,000 people attended the three-day event in Salinas. 

ANR celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Kudos to the Latinos and Friends Affinity Group for organizing three fantastic virtual events for Hispanic Heritage Month. Ricardo Vela, Miguel Sanchez, Arianna Nava, Doralicia Garay, Angela Johnson, Adela Contreras and Lisa Rawleigh put together these wonderful learning opportunities that are recorded and available at http://ucanr.edu/hhm2023.

Bea Nobua-Behrmann
Nobua-Behrmann to discuss shothole borers on KLCS 

Bea Nobua-Behrmann, UC Cooperative Extension urban forestry and natural resources advisor for Los Angeles County, will be on an episode of Things Green with Nick Federoff. Nobua-Behrmann will talk about shothole borers and not moving firewood to prevent the spread of the pests. Her segment on the half-hour sustainable lifestyle show with a heavy emphasis on home, garden, ag, ranching and farming is scheduled to air on Oct. 21. You can watch it at 9 a.m. on Saturday on KLCS-TV 58 or see the simulcasts on Facebook and YouTube.  

 

Posted on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 8:03 AM

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