Kentucky State University's (KYSU) College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment (ACE) celebrated the successes of several of its students in 2018. The academic programs, which formally organized into a college in 2012, include one undergraduate degree in Agriculture, Food, and Environment, two graduate degrees in Environmental Studies and Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences, and 13 12-credit-hour certificates.
In 2018, the program graduated 14 students with Bachelors of Science in Agriculture, Food, and Environment. It graduated nine students with Masters of Science in Environmental Studies (MES).
Several MES students will go on to doctoral studies. Those include Oguz Sariyildiz (University of Florida-Gainsville), Bijesh Mishra (Oklahoma State University), Mamata Bashyal (University of Georgia), and Kyle Slusher (University of Georgia). MES student Jarod Jones accepted a position at the Kentucky Division of Water and graduates Ashley Bates, Megan Goins, and Brandon Preece accepted positions within KYSU's Land Grant Program.
Water and graduates Ashley Bates, Megan Goins, and Brandon Preece accepted positions within KYSU's Land Grant Program.
Kentucky State University's Master of Science in Aquaculture and Aquatic Studies degree program celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2019. The program has graduated 46 students in its history, who have gone on to doctoral programs and professional careers all over the world. Last year, six students successfully defended their theses. Most of those have accepted professional positions following graduation.
Two current aquaculture students have already been accepted into Ph.D. programs. Alex Kramer accepted a position at the University of Ohio under Dr. Konrad Dabrowski and KYSU Aquaculture graduate Dr. Thomas Delomas. He will work in the field of genetics. Gagan Kolimadu accepted a position as a doctoral fellow in veterinary biomedical science at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.
Since its start in 2012, the undergraduate degree in Agriculture, Food, and Environment has increased its option areas. The program now offers six tracks: Agricultural Systems, Environmental Systems, Food and Nutritional Systems, Aquaculture Systems, Agriculture Business, and Agriculture Communications. It also offers 10 undergraduate career-focused certificate programs. The college offers two graduate degrees and three graduate-level certificates.
To learn more about academic programs in agriculture, email kysuag@gmail.com.