USDA Deputy Secretary Launches College Tour at NWIC
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small launched her cross-country college tour with her first stop at Northwest Indian College Friday, Feb. 9. At the Lummi Main Campus, Deputy Small highlighted federal investment in Land-Grant Universities; USDA’s long-standing support for students, research and faculty; and career opportunities in agriculture.
Deputy Small visited the Salish Sea Research Center and spoke with staff and interns about their research, learning about the research programs from SSRC Director, Dr. Misty Peacock.
“One of the things that we have an opportunity to do here is make sure that we’re reaching a generation that’s prepared to take on the challenges of the future and the challenges of today,” Torres Small told Cascadia Daily News. “Visiting Northwest Indian College, I got to meet students who were incredibly resilient, hardworking and had diverse perspectives and experience that grounded the research that they do.”
USDA awarded NWIC $2.8 million to launch a summer internship programs to study aquaculture at the University of California Santa Cruz. The award is one of the largest NWIC has received.
Deputy Torres is the first Latina Deputy Secretary and will continue her college tour throughout the U.S.