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DEIR Council

AGNR DEIR Council

The AGNR DEIR Council’s mission is to effectuate the College’s DEIR plan to improve diversity, inclusion, and equality within the college community by promoting dialogue, providing information, and fostering respect for all students, faculty, and staff, and AGNR clientele. 

Elected by their peers and appointed by the dean, the Council membership represents the diversity of thought, background, and experience of our on-campus and statewide faculty and staff of over 1,000 strong. Read the description of the AGNR DEIR Council here.

The 2023 DEIR Council Report in available at this link

Meetings

2023 - 2024 Meeting Schedule

  • October 26, 2023
  • August 21, 2023

2022 - 2023 Meeting Schedule

2021 - 2022 Meeting Schedule

  • May 24, 2022 Council Meeting, Symons Hall 1110 and virtual
  • April 26, 2022 Council charged by Dean Beyrouty

DEIR Council Membership 2022 - 2025

 

Executive Committee

Abani K. Pradhan, Chair

Xioaping Zhu, Associate Chair

R. Charles Apter, faculty representative

Amanda Shaffer, Ex-officio

Academic Programs

Sarah Balcom,

Assistant Dean, Academic Programs

Heather Buchanan, Program Manager

Agricultural & Resource Economics

Louis Preonas,

Assistant Professor

Animal and Avian Sciences

Andrew Schiffmacher,

Assistant Professor

Environmental Science & Technology

Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman, 

Associate Professor                 

Institute of Applied Agriculture

Heather McHale,

Director, Principal Lecturer

Nutrition and Food Science

Abani K. Pradhan,

Professor, Council Chair

Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

Naomi Sachs,

Assistant Professor

Veterinary Medicine

Meiqing Shi,

Professor

Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station

Rubie Mize,

Research Coordinator

University of Maryland Extension

Michael Elonge,

Senior Agent, Baltimore

University of Maryland Extension

Sarah Hirsh,

Agent, Somerset County

University of Maryland Extension

Susan Harrison,

Principal Agent Associate, Wye Research and Education Center

University of Maryland Extension

Jessica Mellon,

Senior Agent Associate, Allegany County

Associate Chair of Council (appointed)

Xioaping Zhu,

Professor and Chair, Veterinary Medicine

PTK at-Large (elected)

R. Charles Apter,

Senior Lecturer, ANSC

Exempt Staff (elected)

Wennett Jones-Johnson, 

Business Manager, PLSA

Undergraduate Student

vacant (accepting nominations)

Undergraduate Student vacant (accepting nominations)
Graduate Student vacant (accepting nominations)
IAA Student vacant (accepting nominations)

Director, Human Resources Management & Compliance Programs

(Ex-officio)

Norman Pruitt

Non-Exempt Staff (2 openings)

vacant (accepting nominations)

Diversity Officer (Ex-Officio)

Amanda Shaffer