Representatives from Bunge Global visit Alcorn
Representatives from Bunge Global visit Alcorn
Representatives from Bunge Global, a leading global agribusiness and food company, visited Alcorn State University on Friday, November 8, 2013. The event was the first collaborative meeting between the School of Agriculture, Research, Extension and Applied Sciences (AREAS) and the School of Business with a corporate visitor.
The company’s aim in the visit, according to Marcus Ward, vice president for Institutional Advancement, was to discuss recruiting opportunities for students and learn more about Alcorn States’ agriculture and business programs.“
We have been engaging in school specific corporate development strategies over the last few months and are pleased to welcome Bunge to Alcorn,” Ward said. “We look forward to learning about each other and exploring career, research and other partnership opportunities between Alcorn, the oldest historically black land-grant institution in the nation, and Bunge, one of the leading agribusiness and food production companies in the world.”
Alonzo Dority, director of Financial Risk Management with Bunge Global Agribusiness along with Gail Stamm, regional human resources manager with Bunge North America, visited the campus. Both gave excellent presentations that were informative, as well as interesting. Mr. Dority, whose position entails international business, commodities and economics, was also on hand to answer questions about Bunge career opportunities and partnerships.
Dority stated that Bunge Global has many training programs available as well as open positions and these opportunities are not limited to those in the agricultural fields.
“Individuals looking to procure employment with Bunge can possess an array of skills from a quantitative capacity to computers, foreign language, agriculture and business,” he said.
During the luncheon in which several staff presented information about their perspective areas, Dr. Vivek Bhargava, interim dean of the School of Business, said the visitors were very informative.
“We are looking forward to fostering relationships with the corporation, as well as strengthening the relationship between the agriculture and business departments.”
“It was interesting to have them visit and understand our goals,” Dr. Wesley L. Whittaker, interim associate dean and interim associate director of research, School of AREAS, said. “The event was very well organized and will be effective in establishing long-lasting partnerships. I commend Vice President Ward and everyone involved for the outstanding work.”
Other presenters at the luncheon were Dr. Daniel Collins, chair, Department of Agriculture, Dr. Dovi Alipoe, director, Office of Global Programs, Dr. Dania Akash, interim director, Graduate Business Programs and coordinator of Accreditation, Dr. Donna M. Williams, interim chair, Undergraduate Programs, both from the School of Business.
Students and faculty gained invaluable information and networked with a major corporation which operates in over 40 countries. The Bunge visit to Alcorn was successful in facilitating global engagement of the University, internationalization of our School of Business and School of AREAS.
Pictured: Dority (center) with Alcorn representatives.