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The Stockbridge School of Agriculture has created the first New England chapter of a national organization that provides academic and career support for underrepresented and minority students in the agricultural sciences.

Last spring, Stockbridge professor Jaime Pinero started the UMass Amherst chapter of the nonprofit MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, National Resources and Related Sciences), with plant and social sciences master’s student Mateo Rull Garza.

MANRRS, which is based out of Atlanta, Ga., promotes academic and professional advancement for people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and seeks to empower minorities and underrepresented groups in agricultural sciences, natural resources and related fields. Member students have access to opportunities in the agricultural community, including professional networking with mentors and collaboration opportunities with MANRRS collegiate chapters in 30 states.

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Both Pinero, faculty advisor, and Garza, chapter president, envision the chapter’s future as academic and professional development through collaboration and community building. Plans include one-to-one mentoring, career skills workshops, community engagement and a student forum event with agroecologist Miguel Altieri of the University of California Berkeley during the group’s October meeting.

Pinero says the alliance also promotes Stockbridge’s academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels on a national scale.  He referred with pride to the recent U.S. News and World Report ranking that places the university #1 in the U.S. and #5 worldwide for the best universities for Agricultural Sciences . “People should know that,” Piñero asserted.

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Currently, there are 10 UMass chapter members, however, Pinero and Garza hope that number will grow.

Membership is free for UMass students and encouraged for those majoring in agricultural science, natural resources and related fields. Registration is available at https://www.manrrs.org/registration.