LSU AgCenter, College of Agriculture name the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Champions

(02/07/22) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture have selected the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Champions.

Diversity and Inclusion Champions are a dynamic group that liaises between the College of Agriculture dean’s office, departments and schools to promote diversity initiatives and student inclusion. 

Trina Biswas, faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, is a returning Diversity and Inclusion Champion who participated in the pilot program in 2021. 

“A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions and outcomes for everyone,” said Biswas. 

There are 15 faculty, staff and graduate students serving as the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Champions; five of the champions are returning from the pilot program launched last spring. 

At least one champion represents each of the College of Agriculture’s ten departments and schools. 

The champions participate in a three-day orientation that prepares them for their role. Monica Guient, assistant vice president for diversity, inclusion and opportunity for the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture, facilitated the orientation. 

During the orientation, champions set individual goals, participated in diversity training and met with representatives from the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture Council for Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Change. 

Some of the goals set by champions include building relations with students and promoting diversity and inclusion in teaching, research and university services across the College of Agriculture and campus. 

Li-Hsiang Lin, Department of Experimental Statistics, stated one of his goals is to “educate our students in the richness of their past, the diversity of their present and the possibilities for their future.” 

Guient encourages students, faculty and staff to engage with the champions. Champions will be present at College of Agriculture events throughout the academic year. 

The 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Champions:

• Trina Biswas, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business
• Kristin Stair, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education and Evaluation
• Vinicius Moreira, School of Animal Sciences
• Ashleigh Muth-Spurlock, School of Animal Sciences
• Qian “Karen” Sun, Department of Entomology
• Li-Hsiang Lin, Department of Experimental Statistics
• Gina Eubanks, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences
• Judy Myhand, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences
• Heather Kirk-Ballard, School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences
• Jennifer Blanchard, School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences
• Andrew Bratton, School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences
• Jhonson Leonard, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology
• Hallie Dozier, School of Renewable Natural Resources
• Kevin Ringelman, School of Renewable Natural Resources
• Erica Woolard, Department of Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising

Find more information about the Diversity and Inclusion Champions on their website, https://lsu.edu/agriculture/students/champions.php.

For more information, contact Guient at mguient@agcetner.lsu.edu.