The School of Agriculture Dean’s advisory council holds its first meeting to provide advice and support
Dr. Ivory W. Lyles, dean and director of land-grant programs, School of Agriculture, Research, Extension and Applied Sciences, recently started the Dean’s Leadership Advisory Council. The first meeting took place on Alcorn’s Lorman campus Friday, September 25.
The Dean’s Advisory Council is comprised of influential and noteworthy individuals from a wide range of professions and experiences. Dean Lyles welcomed those in attendance.
“Your presence here provides the expertise that we need to be engaged with our constituents and offer the programs that are current, so when our graduates leave here they can function effectively in the areas they graduate in,” said Dr. Donzell Lee, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs.
Lyles said that the primary purpose of the first meeting was to share with the Council members “the overview of the School, discuss the direction that our institution and the land-grant system is going, and to discuss the next steps we need to take.” He stressed the importance of “our students being our first priority” and added, “If we don’t train our students well, there will be a shortage of diverse workforce in the near future.”
After the information sessions concluded, Lyles offered the members the chance to share their areas of expertise and thoughts on the ways the Council should operate to offer the support and advice needed.
Gary A. Blair, vice president of Southern AgCredit, said, “This Advisory Council can work to help improve the placement rates. We also can have some of our co-workers come to speak to the students.”
“We need to provide the students with good opportunities to get the experience necessary for employment. As an Alcorn alumnus, I try to help pass the information to the University on employment in our agencies and industry,” shared United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency Deputy Director Roddric L. Bell ’93.
