KINGSVILLE (Aug. 7, 2025) — The Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) was well represented in Washington D.C. last month when professor of Agriculture Dr. Steven Chumbley and assistant professor of Entomology Dr. Tolulope Agunbiade were introduced as two of the 2025 USDA E. Kika De La Garza (EKDLG) Fellows by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In all, there are 30 Fellows from high schools and institutions of higher learning from around the country in the categories of Education, High School Education and Science. Chumbley was one of 19 Education Fellows, while Agunbiade was one of eight Science Fellows.
Fellows come from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and school districts who were invited to Washington D.C. to learn how USDA services and programs can benefit them, their students and their communities.
The Fellows spent time meeting Washington D.C.’s USDA agency leaders and learning about national issues, policy making and research. They also spent time collaborating with top scientists from the USDA’s Agriculture Research Service.
Agunbiade said the experience allowed her insight that would aid her in addressing critical challenges in the citrus industry, opening student pathways to connect with the USDA and contributing to close the gap between growers and research.
“To me, this fellowship is about positive impact: positively impacting the community, the agricultural industry, and most importantly, the next generation of scientists who are our students at Texas A&M University-Kingsville,” Agunbiade said. “This fellowship provided a unique opportunity to connect directly with the USDA, the agency leading the nation’s agricultural efforts. Together, these experiences have helped strengthen an important three-way pipeline that effectively connects my research, teaching, and outreach with the USDA’s mission.”
For Chumbley, the fellowship is a road to helping create new opportunities, potential future collaborations and partnerships.
“This was a unique opportunity to develop new collaborations with leaders from within the 29 agencies of the USDA and partnerships with other professors from throughout the US,” Chumbley said. “This program has already led to some new grant collaborations and an internship for one of our TAMUK undergrads. It was an enlightening experience. All the speakers were focused on the benefits of an informed public for better science and the future of US agriculture.”
Among the fellows, TAMUK and the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez were the only institutions to have more than one representative.
“It is uncommon to have two faculty from the same institution and the same department to be invited to have this honor as an E. Kika De La Garza Fellow,” said Dr. Shad Nelson, Dean of the Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. “But the high standard of excellence our faculty have established with USDA to place Texas A&M University-Kingsville as a top level HIS institution has led to their confidence in our faculty. It is so great to have Dr. Chumbley represent us in the education excellence space, and Dr. Agunbiade in the research excellence space at the TAMUK Citrus Center. Both will come back to make great impacts to undergraduate and graduate students and stakeholders throughout South Texas”
The EKDLG is part of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program, which is committed to supporting a 21st century agricultural workforce through professional development, workforce development and exposure to opportunities for faculty, staff and students.
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