On January 31, Administrator Samantha Power traveled to Tuskegee, Alabama to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USAID and Tuskegee University (TU), the latest in a series of partnerships under the USAID Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Partnership Initiative. The MOU outlines the shared commitment between the two institutions to collaborate in agricultural research, water security, resilience, and nutrition. This partnership will create new pathways for USAID to harness the expertise and innovative research at TU and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the international development workforce.
The Administrator began her day on campus with a tour led by students and faculty where she visited the burial sites of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, two groundbreaking Black leaders who contributed immensely to the field of agricultural education and research.
Administrator Power met with TU President Dr. Charlotte Morris before attending the MOU signing ceremony where they addressed an audience of students, faculty, and researchers. The Administrator spoke about the rich history of TU and the significance of formalizing USAID’s partnership with the University in order to apply their expertise and renowned research capabilities to global challenges like global hunger and malnutrition.
The Administrator hosted a student roundtable discussion, where she heard from students about their development work and career aspirations. Administrator Power then visited the goat farm of the Tuskegee University Caprine Research and Education Unit, where she spoke with students and faculty about the applications of their research with goats, which are an important source of income and nutrition for families in developing countries.
