CAUSES in Action | November & December 2021 | |
UDC's Water Resources Research Institute Director, Dr. Tolessa Deksissa Selected to Receive US Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine's Research Leadership Award | |
CAUSES is honored to share that Dr. Tolessa Deksissa will receive the 2022 Research Leadership Award by US Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine's Research Leadership Award. The 2022 BEYA STEM Conference kicks off Thursday, February 17, 2022, with a networking reception and culminates with the BEYA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC.
The Research Leadership Award is one of the highest honors at BEYA, the nation's major STEM conference attracting more than 10,000 professionals, students, and industry representatives. Dr. Deksissa's achievements in STEM stood out among the hundreds of nominations. Each year the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) competes with hundreds of nominees nationally. This is the fourth consecutive year, that a faculty member at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) has competed with hundreds of nominees across the country for their innovative research contributions.
Many thanks to Dean Dwane Jones for supporting Dr. Deksissa's vision and direction for the UDC Water Resources Research Institute and UDC's leadership team for their continued support and advocacy for UDC's research ecosystem.
|  | Please join us as we celebrate Dr. Deksissa's career with this honorable award. | | | |
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Your contribution helps UDC-CAUSES arm its students with the skills and knowledge needed to face global challenges, find solutions to community problems, and meet the industry's talent demands.
Your support is needed to advance faculty research and to continue our legacy of academic excellence and innovation.
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Proud to Announce:
UDC Alumnus and Former Center for Nutrition Diet and Health (CNDH) Nutrition Educator, Tambra Stevenson Joins USDA Board
| The U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced recently the three-year term appointment to Tambra Raye Stevenson, founder and CEO of WANDA to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board via the USDA press release. The Board provides feedback to the Secretary of Agriculture on USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, and to land-grant colleges and universities on food and agricultural research, education, extension, and economic priorities and policies. | |
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NEW: Employment Opportunities at UDC-CAUSES | |
Whether you are a recent graduate or a skilled industry professional, we welcome you to share your expertise and skills at CAUSES, as we work to recruit and grow our next generation of talent!
We are committed to building a diverse group of leaders and experts within our organization. We aim to create a culture for professionals to thrive.
Our college provides an opportunity to leverage the power of your degree with real career momentum. We offer web-based, on-the-job training, mentor support, and extensive networking opportunities to help you achieve success.
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We invite you to apply for an opportunity best suited for you and your future! | | |
A Must-Read: Parenting Practices and Adolescents’ Eating Behaviors in African American Families by Dr. Lillie-Monroe Lord, Director of the Center for Nutrition, Diet, and Health | | |
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Parents play an important role in developing the eating behaviors of their children by adopting specific parenting practices. As the prevalence of obesity is high amongst African American adolescents, investigations into associations of specific parenting practices and adolescents’ eating behaviors are essential. In this exploratory study, 14 African American parent-adolescent dyads were interviewed to characterize the influence of eight different parenting practices on the consumption of three main food categories (dairy, fruits and vegetables, and unhealthy snacks).
The results revealed that authoritarian parenting practices were correlated with a higher BMI percentile in adolescents, whereas modeling and monitoring are correlated with a higher parent BMI. In addition, reasoning, monitoring, modeling, and authoritative parenting practices were associated with less unhealthy snack consumption among adolescents. Reasoning and monitoring were the only parenting practices associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption. Finally, a significant correlation was found between eating fruits and vegetables and unhealthy snacks and the location of eating. In conclusion, different parenting practices and environmental factors may impact BMI and food consumption of African American dyads. The results of this study can be used to guide improvement in, and/or development of, nutritional education interventions considering the cultural differences of racial minorities.
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NEW Publication: Second Edition of Careers in Counseling and Psychology:
A Guide to Choosing the Right Career Path by Dr. James Maiden, Acting Assistant Dean for Programs & Administration
We are excited to let you know that the Second Edition of Careers in Counseling and Psychology: A Guide to Choosing the Right Career Path has officially launched!
Through a carefully selected collection of readings, Careers in Counseling and Psychology: A Guide to Choosing the Right Career Path provides students with the information they need to carefully consider and determine their future participation within graduate programs or their careers within the discipline.
The second edition has been updated in response to student feedback and inquiries. The information has been restructured with the chapters focusing on careers in counseling and psychology at the graduate level, the role of being supervised and serving as a supervisor, the importance of multicultural competence, and the process of pursuing a doctoral degree. The text provides insight into the earning potential as well as the roles and responsibilities inherent in each career choice. It also helps students determine which graduate programs best suit their career and professional goals.
We encourage you to share with family, friends, and colleagues!
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No-Till Gardening: Practicing What I Learned in My Agroecology Course by Lila Schottner, PSM Student | | |
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If you are a weekend warrior when it comes to your garden, despair not, for here is an easy, no-dig gardening method that is again without (or very little) pain! It is also an excellent way to recycle fall leaves and old cardboard.
I could not wait to try it out when I heard about it and want to share my experience with you so that you, too, can try it.
Starting a new experiment: To start a “no-till garden” at Van Ness, I had a perfect combination of learning about it in my agroecology (ENSC 512) class with Dr. Mamatha Hanumappa in fall 2020, as well as a shared interest with another member of the UDC Garden Club. As two novices bonded by our enthusiasm, we started discussing our project in November 2020. After a few conversations, we decided to locate our no-till plot next to UDC’s Garden of the Senses, also known as the Herb Garden. Below is an account of our experiment, but first, let us understand what a no-till garden is. Also called a no-dig garden, no-till is a gardening method where the soil is not disturbed. It is a way of keeping the carbon in the ground because digging releases carbon into the air, adding harmful gases and accelerating climate change. Think of a no-till garden as a layering method (photo 1 left, much like making a cake). We layer ground cover materials, one on top of the other, to grow vegetables and other plants, which we then eat. No-till farming is different from the no-till gardening I talk about here in that it is a conservation agriculture method where the land is subject to zero or minimum tillage. In the no-till gardening method, in addition to not digging the land, we add layers of mulch. While both methods conserve soil moisture and help with carbon sequestration, the no-till gardening method is excellent for controlling weeds.
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Dr. Dwane Jones, Dean of CAUSES, to Speak at the
Government University Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR)
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On February 16th, the National Academy of Sciences will be featuring a panel to discuss "Supporting Partnerships for Food Security and Sustainability," in which our very own Dr. Dwane Jones, Dean of CAUSES will be a speaker.GUIRR is the Government, University, Industry Research Roundtable of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). UDC was invited to become and is a member since 2021.
The Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable will convene a day-long workshop for its members and invited guests to discuss opportunities for supporting research and innovation to address agricultural and human health challenges associated with feeding the future. The workshop will identify areas where cross-sector collaboration, partnership, and interdisciplinary research are necessary to support food sustainability and security in the United States and globally. By convening experts from across sectors and disciplines, GUIRR will provide a forum for dialogue on related policy priorities by leaders across the research enterprise.
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Dr. Elmira Asongwed to Present at Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s Conference on Promoting Healthy Work Environments | |
We are honored to announce that Dr. Asongwed will be presenting at an internationally recognized event within the nursing community, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s Conference.
This is an opportunity to collaborate with nursing scholars from around the world involved in the advancement of nursing science and promises to be rewarding and stimulating.
Fun Fact: Dr. Asongwed was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in 1972!
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Promoting Healthy Academic Environments Utilizing Mentoring and Mindfulness
Thursday, 24 March 2022 at 5:00 PM
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See What's Happening in CAUSES!
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The CAUSES Research Seminar offers opportunities for the community to learn about research underway at CAUSES, UDC, and partner organizations across the United States and globally.
All seminars are held on selected Fridays from 12:00 to 1:30 PM EST via Zoom.
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Have Questions? Need Assistance?
For information about the CAUSES Research Seminar Series and its speakers, contact Dr. Sabine O’Hara, Distinguished Professor and Ph.D. Program Director, at sabine.ohara@udc.edu
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| CAUSES Research Seminar Series | | Zoom link will be provided with event registration. | | 02/18/22 12:00pm - 02/18/22 1:30pm US/Eastern | | A Planet of 3 Billion: Mapping Humanity's Long History of Ecological Destruction and Finding Our Way to a Resilient Future | | | | |
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Certified Professional Food Manager Course is Back!
The course is designed to teach the principles of food safety management and how to use those principles to create a food-safe culture. Additionally, the course emphasizes and provides information to students about identifying and avoiding food contaminants, proper employee health and hygiene, cleaning and sanitation principles, and safe food handling practices.
Course Instructor: Paul Brown, Jr., Food Safety Coordinator, please contact him at pbrown@udc.edu.
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Back by Popular Demand:
"Quick Tips to Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label"
This FREE one-hour presentation is designed to provide participants with information and easy tips on reading and understanding nutrition facts labels.
Also, participants will learn what nutrients and ingredients are required on the nutrition facts label by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Course Instructor:
Tiffany N. Johnson-Largent, Ph.D., RDN, LD For further information, please contact
Dr. Johnson-Largent at 202-274-6708 or tiffany.johnsonlarge@udc.edu.
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Telework 15: Nutrition Tips To Avoid Weight Gain While Working From Home Returns
This workshop will provide helpful nutrition tips to those working from home to prevent weight gain that can occur from the consumption of food and drinks that are high in calories, fats, sodium, and sugar.
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Course Instructor:
Tiffany N. Johnson-Largent, Ph.D., RDN, LD For further information, please contact
Dr. Johnson-Largent at 202-274-6708 or tiffany.johnsonlarge@udc.edu.
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NEW: Request for Proposals for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill
The College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is requesting completed grant proposals for projects that specifically address the goals that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service (USDA/AMS) has established for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program- Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB).
CAUSES expects to award multiple grants under this funded program. Solicitations for individual grant awards between $10,000 and $50,000 will be considered. This is a reimbursable grant. CAUSES may advance up to 20 percent (maximum $5,000) of the approved budget to initiate project activities, with the balance being attainable on a reimbursable schedule. Reimbursement will require timely completion and proper reporting of approved budget activities and the submission of invoices.
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For more information contact:
Dr. Mamatha Hanumappa at mamatha.hanumappa@udc.edu.
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Recap: Four CAUSES Architecture Students Abstracts Accepted to Environments by Design: Health, Wellbeing, and Place | |
The Environments by Design: Health, Wellbeing, and Place has accepted abstracts from four CAUSES Architecture students. Partners from Syracuse University and UK held a virtual conference in December and papers are due at the end of January 2022. Peer reviewers stated that the students' studies are very original and that the topics are relevant and quite interesting for prompting dialogue.
Congratulations Dr. Franz on your leadership in assisting our students and their scholarship!
Download Environments by Design Conference Program or or view abstracts, pre-recorded presentations, and access all sessions on the conference site!
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Showcase: American Institute of Architects (AIA) Board of Directors and Strategic Council Honor the Riding The Vortex Organization | Established in 1972, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award annually honors an architect or organization that champions a range of social issues. For more than a decade, RIDING THE VORTEX (VORTEX), a collaboration of African-American women representing the entire spectrum of practice, had endeavored to increase the number of people of color licensed to practice architecture in the U.S. Following its 2007 launch at the AIA Conference on Architecture in San Antonio, VORTEX has directly responded to Whitney M. Young Jr.’s observations on the disheartening history of American architecture. VORTEX’s key collaborators are architects and design leaders Kathryn Tyler Prigmore, FAIA; Kathy Denise Dixon, FAIA; Katherine Williams, AIA; and Melissa R. Daniel, Assoc. AIA. Barbara G. Laurie, AIA, was also a critical member until her passing in 2013. | |
RIDING THE VORTEX: African-American Women Architects in Practice debuted at the 2007 AIA Conference, and was a crucial element of NOMA’s 2008 conference in Washington, D.C. | | |
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For more information, contact
Dan Guilbeault at dan.guilbeault@georgetown.edu
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Career Opportunity: Georgetown University Office of Sustainability is Expanding with a New Director of Sustainability of Administration and Culture
| The Director is a key position within the Georgetown University Office of Sustainability to lead and manage the implementation of sustainability initiatives within the administration and culture of the university. The person in this role directs and facilitates internal stakeholder engagement with teams working on business administration and cultures such as procurement, investment, information services, human resources, campus dining and stores, student affairs, alumni relations, and communications to inform sustainability strategic planning and project implementation and reporting. | | |
Calling All Undergraduates: Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Environments (GI4SUrE) is Seeking Summer Research Interns | |
Green Infrastructure is a better way to build, restore, and improve urban infrastructure. Students will explore how GI can mitigate the effects of urban runoff on surface water quality and hydrology through field, lab, or modeling work. Although based in eastern Tennessee, the research will affect any geographical area dealing with urban stormwater runoff. Students will be part of a professional and social atmosphere to develop their fundamental research methodologies and critical thinking skills.
GI4SUrE is a 10-week summer program that will immerse ten undergraduate students in green infrastructure (GI) research.
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Location: The University of Tennessee’s main campus in Knoxville, Tennessee
Application Deadline: February 20, 2022
For more information please contact
Dr. Jon Hathaway, at hathaway@utk.edu.
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UDC Nutrition and Dietetics Program Graduate, Katie Rosales Awarded Inaugural 2021 Woman Advancing Nutrition and Agriculture (WANDA) Fellowship | |
The Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA) is building a movement of a million women and girls of African descent to become food sheroes in their communities through education, advocacy, and innovation by 2030. Their fellowship was launched by WANDA and Good Food Markets in the summer of 2021. The purpose of the fellowship is to fund, mentor, and provide community nutrition/wellness field experience to a new generation of food sheroes. They accepted the challenge to tackle the low supply of dietitians and nutritionists of African descent specifically in the Ward 8 community.
My name is Katie Rosales, and I was awarded the inaugural 2021 WANDA Fellowship in
partnership with Good Food Markets and Oasis Community Partners. I am a native Washingtonian residing in one of the many communities that WANDA works to serve. I am a recent graduate from the University of the District of Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.
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This fellowship will allow me to explore the field of community nutrition, gain more practical experience, and engage with others who will help me develop new knowledge and abilities. This fellowship helps put me one step closer to my dream of becoming a registered dietitian and allows me to give back to my own community!
~ Katie, UDC Nutrition Graduate
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Welcome to the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). UDC is the only urban, land-grant university in the nation. 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 the 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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About the University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia is an HBCU, urban land-grant, and the only public university in the nation's capital, The University of the District of Columbia is committed to a broad mission of education, research, and community service. Established by abolitionist Myrtilla Miner in 1851, the University of DC offers Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees and a host of workplace development services designed to create opportunities for student success. 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, a Community College, and the 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. 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 - 3624 Market Street - Philadelphia, PA 19104 - 267.284.5000.
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.
The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action institution. 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. This policy covers all programs, services policies, and procedures of the University, including admission to educational programs and employment. The University emphasizes the recruitment of minorities, women, disabled individuals, disabled veterans, Vietnam-era veterans, and other eligible veterans.
El Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA) prohíbe la discriminación en todos sus programas y actividades por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, religión, sexo, identidad de género (incluida la expresión de género), orientación sexual, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar / parental, ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia pública, creencias políticas, represalias o represalias por actividades previas de derechos civiles. (No todas las bases prohibidas se aplican a todos los programas.) Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios de comunicación alternativos para obtener información sobre el programa. (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense, etc.) debe comunicarse con la Agencia responsable o con el TARGET Center de USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comunicarse con el USDA a través del Federal Relay Service al (800) 877-8339. Además, esta información está disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés. Para presentar una queja alegando discriminación, por favor complete el Formulario de Queja por Discriminación del Programa del USDA, AD-3027, que se encuentra en línea en http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, o en cualquier oficina del USDA o escriba una carta dirigida a Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos, Oficina del Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 y proporcionar en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Envíe su carta o formulario completado al USDA por fax: (202) 690-7442; o correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de queja, llame al (866) 632-9992. USDA es un proveedor, empleador y prestamista con igualdad de oportunidades para todos.
La Universidad del Distrito de Columbia es una institución de Acción Afirmativa en Igualdad de Oportunidades. La Universidad prohíbe la discriminación o el acoso contra cualquier persona sobre la base de la raza, color, religión, nacionalidad, sexo, edad, discapacidad, orientación sexual, identidad o expresión de género reales o percibidos, responsabilidades familiares, matrícula, afiliación política, estado marital, apariencia personal, información genética, estado familiar, fuente de ingresos, estado como víctima de una ofensa intrafamiliar, lugar de residencia o negocio, o estado como veterano, según lo dispuesto y en la medida requerida por los estatutos del Distrito y Federal y regulaciones. Esta política cubre todos los programas, políticas de servicios y procedimientos de la Universidad, incluida la admisión a programas educativos y empleo. La Universidad enfatiza el reclutamiento de minorías, mujeres, personas discapacitadas, veteranos discapacitados, veteranos de la era de Vietnam y otros veteranos elegibles.
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