CAUSES In Action | Winter Edition | | |
Transformative News in Agriculture and Sustainability | | |
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Water Resources Research Institute's Environmental Quality Testing Laboratory's Primary Accreditation Renewed
The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), housed in the University of the District of Columbia’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability & Environmental Sciences (UDC-CAUSES), stands at the forefront of innovation in building interdisciplinary research, education, and a state-of-the-art laboratory testing service. Through a partnership supported by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP), UDC’s Environmental Quality Testing Laboratory received renewed accreditation from the New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. The lab was accredited for its potable water (drinking water) and non-potable water (wastewater) testing methods for microbiological contamination. In AY 2017-18, the lab successfully obtained its accreditation for E. coli and total coliform. The lab has also been accredited in trace metal analysis in soil and water.
NELAP recognizes state-level accrediting agencies that represent the highest bar of environmental laboratory accreditation. Maintaining this level of laboratory testing demonstrates UDC-CAUSES' commitment to the well-being of its communities and our planet. Spearheaded by Dr. Tolessa Deksissa, the Water Resources Research Institute at UDC vigorously pursues its mission to identify and help solve water issues in the District of Columbia and beyond.
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Check Out CAUSES' Video Series on YouTube!
DeepDive Video #14 - Dr. Tolessa Dekissa, Director of the Water Resources Research Institute, discusses the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Degree program. The curriculum enables students to develop advanced expertise in either Urban Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, or Water Resources Management, depending on their chosen concentration.
DeepDive Video #15 - Jennifer Burton, an alum of the Urban Sustainability Professional Science Master's Program, shares insights into her educational journey in environmental sustainability science, emphasizing the practical, hands-on experiences she obtained at UDC-CAUSES.
DeepDive Video #16 - Dean Dwane Jones and Project Manager Jahleezah Eskew welcome three new employees, proudly announce the winning of the Northeast Urban Extension Innovation Award by the UDC 4H Soccer program and discuss the College’s recent experience working with and learning from Goodstock Consulting.
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Your participation is essential to UDC-CAUSES' mission. You can help us continue developing innovative solutions for the world's future through support of our urban food hubs, research efforts, urban farming and youth development activities, community events, and more.
To volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Application Form.
Golden Volunteer is a fun and simple way to locate and register for volunteer opportunities and to easily log and track your volunteer hours.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a volunteer day, contact Michele Bassler at michele.bassler@udc.edu.
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UDC's Foundation is committed to supporting future generations. We strive to give students the resources necessary to achieve success, and your contributions help UDC-CAUSES arm its students with the skills and knowledge to face global challenges, create solutions to community and global issues, and meet industries' talent demands.
Your support is needed to advance the University's research and continue our academic excellence and innovation legacy.
Create a legacy of giving and leave a positive and enduring impact on the lives of these deserving students. Your generosity will open doors to education and empower the next generation to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
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⭐️ Making Headlines | Paving Sustainable Paths ⭐️ | | |
November 2023: CAUSES’ Distinguished Professor and ULE Ph.D. Program Director Dr. Sabine O’Hara received the Engaged Scholarship Award from Transform Mid-Atlantic. | |
On November 30, 2023, Dr. Sabine O’Hara, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Ph.D. program in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ULE), was recognized for her ongoing scholarship and leadership, paving the way for engaging transformative community-based educational training, research, outreach, and partnerships. Dr. O’Hara’s efforts, which led to the University’s unique innovative model for urban agriculture and urban sustainability, are directed towards improving the quality of life and economic prospects for local communities. Dr. Ricardo Brown, Associate Dean for Academic Programs in UDC-CAUSES, nominated Dr. O’Hara for this prestigious award and recognition. Click below to learn more about Transform Mid-Atlantic and Dr. O’Hara’s award - https://transformmidatlantic.org/2023-tma-award-recipients/
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Doctoral Student Contributes to the Literature | | | |
⭐️ UDC-CAUSES’ Student and Alumni Spotlights ⭐️ | | |
Two New Scholars Added to the CAUSES' Graduate Family | |
Introducing the latest recipients of doctoral degrees in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Haniyeh Shariatmadary completed her degree in May 2023, specializing in Urban Sustainability and Resilience Leadership. Dr. Darron Shell also attained his ULE degree in May 2023, focusing on Urban Education Leadership.
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CAUSES Graduate Recognized by Interior Design Magazine | |
UDC-CAUSES Alum Fikir Kebede was recently recognized as one of Interior Design Magazine’s 30 Under 30 architectural designers. Ms. Kebede graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and urban planning. The 2022 graduate’s professional work focuses on commercial sustainable infrastructures that enhance the quality of life and the environment. Ms. Kebede is an architectural designer at Perkins Eastman in the Washington, DC-Baltimore area.
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Pictured above: Joshua Cato, Prof. Dixon, and Matthew-Ahmad Moore | Photo Credit: Logo of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) | |
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Architecture Student Selected as National Student Representative for Architecture Conference
On October 8, 2023, Joshua Cato, a Master of Architecture student, was chosen as a national student representative at the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Cato attended the conference with UDC’s Associate Professor Kathy Dixon and Adjunct Professor Kimberly Tuttle as well as senior Bachelor of Science Architecture student Matthew-Ahmad Moore. Over 1,500 architects, professionals and students attended the conference.
On October 24, 2023, Cato also represented the UDC National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) on a panel at the Student Design Exchange hosted by Gensler DC—a global architecture, design, and planning firm.
Cato and students from Marymount University, George Washington University and the American Institute of Architecture Students’ (AIAS) national president discussed their experiences as student leaders and how these experiences shape their career paths.
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Create ⭐️ Collaborate ⭐️ Curate | | | |
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Visiting Dignitary from India at Firebird Farm +
Food Hub
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On September 22, 2023, UDC-CAUSES welcomed Dr. R.C. Agrawal to the Firebird Research Farm in Beltsville, Maryland. Dr. Agrawal is the Deputy Director General (Agriculture Education) and National Director, NAHEP, of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in New Delhi, India. He also heads the GOI-World Bank Project, “National Agricultural Higher Education Project,” which has 55 agricultural universities in India.
Bekzod Shamsiev, a World Bank Agriculture Economist in the Sustainable Development department, accompanied Dr. Agrawal on the tour. During the tour, Dr. Hossain Azam, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UDC, Dr. Oumoule Ndiaye, a postdoctoral scholar in UDC-CAUSES, and graduate students shared about their research projects at the Farm. The tour also enabled Dr. Agrawal to meet participants in the UDC-CAUSES Beginning Farmers program. Potential outcomes of Dr. Agrawal’s visit to UDC may include a formal partnership between the World Bank, Indian universities, UDC, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture focused on student recruitment, faculty exchanges, and future research projects on urban issues in New Delhi and Washington, DC.
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Pakistan Delegation Visit on November 15, 2023 | | |
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Pakistan Delegation Visit on November 15, 2023
A delegation from Pakistan recently toured the UDC Lamond-Riggs Urban Food Hub to learn about UDC-CAUSES' Center for Urban Resilience, Innovation, and Infrastructure (CURII). The delegation included government officials, business owners, and researchers actively involved in agriculture and the economy, and the group had a specific interest in learning how the University addresses food insecurity through controlled-environment agriculture. Introduced by the U.S. Department of State, the delegation discovered UDC's unique value proposition as the nation's only exclusively urban land-grant university and its focus on agricultural innovation. Following the visit, the Department of State sincerely thanked UDC and Dr. Tsakani Ngomane, Director of CURII, for hosting the delegation, acknowledging the impactful collaboration and expressing enthusiasm for future endeavors.
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Fall Academic & Land-Grant Open Houses | | | |
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Check out the photos from our open houses. Attendees were exposed to many of the awesome programs that UDC-CAUSES has to offer. During the Academic Open House held at the Student Center on the Van Ness campus, prospective students were able to learn about resources available to UDC students, career options for graduates from UDC-CAUSES degree programs, campus life, and how to apply for admission to UDC.
The Land-Grant Open House was held on UDC’s Lamond-Riggs campus. Middle schoolers, high school students, and community members learned about urban agriculture, urban farming in soil-less environments, and many other topics. The presentations and displays during the event demonstrated CAUSES’ efforts to improve food security, mitigate climate change, and improve food and water safety, and identified ways attendees can assist with and lead sustainability efforts in their local communities.
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Workshops + Certificates + Info-Sessions | | | |
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Course Instructor:
Paul Brown
Please contact Paul Brown at pbrown@udc.edu.
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Calling All Food Managers: ServSafe Food Protection Manager Course
The UDC ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification is recognized by federal, state, and local jurisdictions more than any other food safety certification! The certification helps food service managers enforce critical food safety practices in establishments with every meal served.
The UDC ServSafe Food Protection Manager course ensures that you:
- Protect the public's health and safety in your food service establishment.
- Understand current food safety policies and procedures.
- Implement effective employee training programs.
- Keep your operation in compliance with all applicable public health regulations.
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PR Harris Workshop Series Fall 2023-Winter 2024
Interested in soil-less systems? Become an urban grower, expand your farming knowledge and resources essential to operate and maintain a soil-less agriculture urban environment!
The workshop series delivers the components of a hydroponics system, crop growth in colder temperatures, and system adaptations to maintain a thriving habitat throughout the winter in an urban greenhouse.
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For more information, please contact Ariel Verbrugge at Ariel.Verbrugge@udc.edu | | |
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Nannies 101 Training (Virtual)
Caregivers are essential in helping children reach their fullest potential, fostering confidence, and promoting healthy life practices. This non-credit course delivers guidelines and optimal approaches tailored for nannies and au pairs of children ages 5-14 years. The training introduces child development, childhood wellness and illnesses, behavior management, effective planning, communication skills, and other indispensable practices. The course aims to furnish nannies with key resources and nurturing instruction, empowering them to effectively manage day-to-day operations involving children.
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Course Instructor:
Rebecca Bankhead
Manager, Urban Youth Education and Resource Development
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| What Would You Like To See More Of In Our Monthly Newsletter? | | | |
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Welcome to the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, & Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). CAUSES was formed in 2010 as the University’s land-grant college.
We engage in applied teaching and research that helps to improve the quality of life and economic opportunity for residents of the District of Columbia and others around the world through traditional academic degrees and through non-degree, non-credit bearing, skills-building programs, such as green infrastructure and urban agriculture.
CAUSES is unique in its organizational structure and its mission: an interdisciplinary college where academic programs such as architecture, urban sustainability, health education, nutrition and dietetics, and nursing train a forward-thinking generation of professionals who will ensure that the world has “Healthy Cities–Healthy People.” The College houses the only doctoral-level program in the nation that focuses on urban leadership and entrepreneurship.
For more information or inquiries, feel free to contact us at causes@udc.edu.
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Socially Active? Stay Connected! | |
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About the University of the District of Columbia
As an HBCU, an urban land-grant institution, and the only public university in the nation’s capital, the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is committed to a broad mission of education, research, and community service. Established by abolitionist Myrtilla Miner in 1851, the University offers Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees, along with a host of workforce development and continuing education certifications for student success, professional growth, and economic advancement. The University is comprised of the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences; College of Arts and Sciences; School of Business and Public Administration; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; UDC Community College; and the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law. To learn more, visit www.udc.edu.
The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The University prohibits discrimination or harassment against any person on the basis of the actual or perceived actual race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, personal appearance, genetic information, familial status, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, place of residence or business, or status as a covered veteran, as provided for and to the extent required by District and Federal statutes and regulations. For a full version of the University’s EO Policy Statement, please visit: http://www.udc.edu/equal_opportunity.The University of the District of Columbia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801, 267-284-5011.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, this information is available in languages other than English. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, please complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD- 3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. Submit your completed letter or form to USDA via fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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