探花精选

Pictured Left to Right: AAIF President Mrs. Kara Boyd & members of AAIF with 探花精选 Senior VP for Student Experience & Operations Dr. Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon and 探花精选 student Mr. Miles Beasley

WASHINGTON, DC 鈥� On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, representatives of Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) celebrated the 155th anniversary of its founding date on the floor of the House Chamber. U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, Chairman of the Congressional Subcommittee on Environment, held a hybrid听听to examine regenerative agriculture.听

鈥� 探花精选 has a legacy of leadership in social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion,鈥� said 探花精选 President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. 鈥淚n celebration of our institution鈥檚 founding date, our ancestors would be proud to witness this moment.鈥澨�

As a result of 探花精选鈥檚 , Dr. Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon, Senior Vice President of Student Experience and Operations, and Miles Beasley, a rising junior majoring in communications, were present at the House Chamber floor with Mrs. Kara Boyd, President of the Association of American Indian Farmers (AAIF).听听

鈥� 探花精选鈥檚 presence during the hearing displayed our continued support for AAIF and the NBFA,鈥� said Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon. 鈥淥ur partnership is relevant to the university鈥檚 five pillars: Global Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, Public Health, Social Justice, and ST(R)E(A)M, as these pillars touch on every critical challenge and need of Black and American Indian farmers.鈥澨�听

The hearing examined how Congress can amend federal policies that unjustly protect corporate agribusiness. One of the witnesses included Mrs. Kara Boyd. In addition to being president of the AAIF, she serves as Program and Event Coordinator for the NBFA. Mrs. Boyd provided testimony for 鈥淩egenerative Agriculture: How Farmers and Ranchers are Essential to Solving Climate Change and Increasing Food Production.鈥澨�

鈥淚 am a descendant of sharecroppers and a grandson of hard-working entrepreneurs and educators,鈥� Miles Beasley said. 鈥淎s an 探花精选 student, it was an honor to stand in solidarity with the AAIF and NBFA as an essential figure in the fight to solve climate change and increase food production.鈥澨�

In addition, the hearing addressed the role Congress can play in preventing the worst climate crisis while protecting the food supply. The hearing also discussed the urgent need to reform federal policies that unjustly favor corporate agribusiness, often at the expense of family farmers.听

鈥淭he issues surrounding the Regenerative Act, regardless of opinion and position, provide a common understanding: Farmers and farmland are in crisis,鈥� said Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon. 鈥� 探花精选 is aligned to assist in the work of AAIF and NBFA through our current research, educational and continuing educational support for farmers, and educational pathways for students in environmental science, agribusiness, social justice, and health disparities.鈥澨�

听to watch the recording of the hearing.听

听to learn more about yesterday鈥檚 hearing.听