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Dr. Lisa R. Ramirez Director, Office of the Secretary, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | official website

USDA invites applications for fellowship program aimed at Hispanic-serving educational entities

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement is now accepting applications for the 2025 USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program. This initiative aims to connect faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Hispanic-Serving School Districts (HSSDs) with USDA resources. The fellowship will take place in the summer of 2025, with an application deadline set for March 6, 2025.

Dr. Lisa Ramirez, director of USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, stated, “This fellowship was designed to introduce faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions to the many USDA programs and resources available to them and their students.” She highlighted that over 400 fellows have participated in the program, benefiting their institutions and communities by sharing acquired knowledge.

The program provides opportunities for participants to collaborate with USDA, gaining insights into federal government operations. Fellows are expected to share their experiences with colleagues and students at their respective institutions.

The Education Fellowships target faculty and staff at HSIs, while High School Fellowships are aimed at secondary education superintendents, principals, agricultural or district-level teachers at HSSDs. Participants will attend a one-week program in Washington D.C., scheduled for July 7-11, 2025.

Science fellowships cater specifically to science faculty at HSIs. These fellows participate in the same one-week program in Washington D.C., followed by an additional week working alongside scientists at a USDA research facility from July 14-18, 2025.

Eligibility requires applicants to be affiliated with an HSI or HSSD. HSIs are accredited colleges or universities where at least 25% of the student body is Hispanic. There are currently over 600 such institutions across 28 states as well as in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico serving more than three million students.

For further details or to apply for the fellowship program, interested individuals can visit USDA’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program web page.

USDA plays a vital role in American life under the Biden-Harris Administration by focusing on resilient local food production systems, promoting fair markets for producers, ensuring food security across communities, supporting climate-smart practices among farmers, investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy capabilities, and striving for equity within its workforce.

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