Natalia Santos Among 2019 Class of E. Kika De La Garza Fellows

Natalia B. Santos, program coordinator in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, is among 18 faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the nation who have been selected as 2019 E. Kika De La Garza Fellows. The summer fellowship program offers firsthand experiences in policymaking and research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies.

"We are delighted to welcome the 2019 class of the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program," said Mike Beatty, Acting Director for the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. "These fellows represent an opportunity for USDA to empower and engage the next generation of agricultural professionals."

The fellowships, awarded yearly since 1998, recognize highly accomplished staff and faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Fellows are selected based on the compatibility of their interests with USDA mission areas, as well as the value their experiences will add to their institutions' educational capacities.

Fellows are named either Education Fellows or Science Fellows. Santos was named an Education Fellow.

In June, Education Fellows will attend a two-week program in Washington, D.C. They will meet with representatives of USDA and other federal agencies such as the Department of Education, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. Science Fellows collaborate with leading scientists from USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).