A new student organization at West Virginia University capped off its first year of promoting diversity across multiple disciplines.

A WVU chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) began operation in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. In its first year, the group attended the national organization’s Annual Career Fair and Training Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, and received honors as a Chapter of Excellence by the national organization

“MANRRS is a national society that welcomes people from all racial and ethnic groups to become members and to participate in agricultural, natural resources and related sciences careers,” said Adam Redhead, WVU chapter president and doctoral student in Animal Science.

The goal of MANRRS is to provide its student members – spanning from junior high school through doctoral programs – with the support needed to become productive citizens. The program engages its students in leadership development activities, educational opportunities, job readiness training and facilitates internship placement and permanent employment.

“Our chapter is helping to build a more diverse agriculture and natural resource work force by preparing undergraduate and graduate students for successful transition into long-term careers,” said Marlon Knights, associate professor of reproductive physiology in the Davis College and faculty advisor for MANRRS at WVU.

At the national conference, Redhead and Knights were joined by Davis College graduate student Jessica Brantner and undergraduate student Alyson Janes from the Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences and graduate student Tiffany Fegel from the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources.

“We attended the conference and networked with professionals from across the country and gained skills that will be invaluable in our futures,” said Redhead. “Connecting to MANRRS on a national scale will help to push MANRRS-WVU even further in the future.”

MANNRS-WVU is supported by the Davis College Office of the Dean and the WVU Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. For more information on the organization, please email mannrs.wvu@gmail.com or visit the group’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/MANRRS-WVU/700358879980662.

-WVU-

dw/05/06/14

CONTACT: David Welsh, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
304.293.2394, David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu

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