UMass Amherst Entomology Alumnus named State Minister for Agriculture in Rwanda, Africa

March 2008

Dr. Agnes Abera Kalibata (formerly Agnes Abera-Kanyamuhungu) was named as State Minister for Agriculture in Rwanda, Africa. She completed her Ph.D in Entomology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2005. Her advisor was Dr. Roy Van Driesche, Professor of Entomology in the Department of Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences (PSIS). Dr. Kalibata returned to Africa and worked as a post doc at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Kampala, Uganda. She then managed a World Bank Project in Rwanda. She was appointed Secretary General of the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture in June 2006, and now State Minister for Agriculture in March 2008. Dr. Kalibata says, "The challange is huge, but it gives me an opportunity to contribute and give back to my society. I am greatly honored."

Dr. Kalibata is proud to have published 3 papers from her Ph.D work at UMass, and credits Dr. Van Driesche as the driving force. She also published a paper from her work in Uganda with the help of her Ugandan advisor, Cliff Gold. "The energy and high expectations they brought into my work is what really made it possible to achieve what I have in the short time since I left UMass. I am proud to have been part of the UMass Community."

PSIS is proud to count Agnes Kalibata as one of our most distinguished Alumni, and we congratulate our colleague.

Online announcement of Dr. Kalibata's position is at:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200803090005.html

Dr. Kalibata's Email is kalibatts@yahoo.co.uk