CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/09/18

UGA-Tifton hosts young Mandela Washington Fellow from Democratic Republic of Congo

By Clint Thompson

Auxence Muhigwa Akonkwa, a Fellow from the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa, will visit the University of Georgia Tifton campus through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program.

While at UGA-Tifton, Akonkwa will participate in UGA Professor Greg Fonsah’s banana research; study the complete fresh-food market value chain, including fruits, vegetables and soybeans; attend research and UGA Cooperative Extension field days and lectures; collect production, marketing and postharvest data; and learn to develop business plans and economic analyses.

Akonkwa will also audit Fonsah’s “Agricultural Selling” class and give a presentation on his experience in Georgia to faculty and students at the end of the fellowship.

The fellowship began on Aug. 6 and will conclude on Sept. 14.

“I am extremely excited to be part of this distinguished Mandela Washington Fellowship program for Young African Leaders. I am equally happy that the University of Georgia and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), in particular, have been recognized as one of the leading land- and sea-grant universities capable of providing the necessary expertise needed by these future African leaders,” Fonsah said.

Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program fosters closer relations and empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training and networking opportunities.

“The Mandela Washington Fellows are carefully selected through a rigorous vetting process based on their exceptional leadership qualities and look to university faculty for guidance and mentoring,” said Amrit Bart, assistant dean and director for the CAES Office of Global Programs. “Dr. Fonsah demonstrates the strong role our college plays in nurturing future global leaders in Africa and around the world.”

Selected from a pool of more than 37,000 applicants, this year’s 700 highly accomplished Fellows are leaders in public service, business, civil society, education, agriculture and other fields. These young leaders, between the ages of 25 and 35, play a role in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.

The 2018 Fellows participated in academic and leadership institutes at 28 campuses across the U.S. through the end of July. Akonkwa is one of 100 Fellows chosen to remain in the U.S. to take part in professional development experiences. 

Clint Thompson is an agriculture writer based in Tifton, Georgia.

Authors:
Clint Thompson
Experts/Sources:
Esendugue Greg Fonsah
Greg Fonsah (left), University of Georgia Tifton campus professor, will lead Auxence Muhigwa Akonkwa, a Fellow visiting UGA-Tifton from the Democratic Republic of Congo, in banana research. Akonkwa is taking part in Fonsah's research through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Placing in the top 0.05% of all scholars worldwide, Casimir Akoh earned the honor through his work's high impact, his prolific publication record and the outstanding quality of his academic contributions. CAES News
CAES food scientist named inaugural Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS 12/09/24
With over 30 years of research at the University of Georgia, renowned College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences food scientist Casimir Akoh was named an inaugural Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS earlier this year. Placing in the top 0.05% of all scholars worldwide, Akoh earned the honor through his work's high impact, his prolific publication record and the outstanding quality of his academic contributions.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.
In Georgia alone, there are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, HFIM students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. CAES News
UGA redefines Southern hospitality through a thriving degree program 11/27/24 Claire S. Kinnard
There are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality in Georgia. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, University of Georgia hospitality and food industry management students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. This versatile experience — with its focus on quality curriculum, meaningful interaction with local and national business, and experiential learning — has already begun graduating the next generation of hospitality leaders.