2024–2025 Cohort
Meet the Fellows, Honorees, and Mentors who strengthened research, leadership, and professional networks across food and agriculture.
CHFP Fellows
LawBreanna Magee
Southern University Law CenterBreanna Magee brought court, public-administration, nonprofit-management, and legal-assistant experience to her studies at Southern University Law Center. Her professional interests include public policy, criminal law, civil rights law, and agricultural law.
Ph.D. in Sustainable Agriculture Production & HealthJoel O. Alabi
North Carolina A&T State UniversityJoel O. Alabi is an animal scientist specializing in sustainable livestock production, feed efficiency, molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics. His research uses multi-omics tools to improve animal productivity, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and advance food and nutritional security.
Nutrition and DieteticsMariam Marafa
North Carolina A&T State UniversityMariam Marafa is a nutritionist whose professional experience includes community nutrition, clinical dietetics, pediatric nutrition rehabilitation, and health education. Her research examines food insecurity and the social determinants of health, with particular attention to childhood development and women’s health.
Food and Nutritional SciencesChristiana Omojo Ugbem
North Carolina A&T State UniversityChristiana Omojo Ugbem studies food and nutritional sciences with a focus on sustainable agriculture, health, and nutrition. Her research examines food insecurity among older adults and seeks durable solutions that connect immediate nutritional needs with long-term well-being.
M.S. Agronomy — Integrated Pest ManagementTreDarious Clifton
Alcorn State UniversityTreDarious Clifton studies integrated pest management across plant pathology, entomology, and agronomy. His work includes climate-smart IPM, urban agriculture, pollinator intercropping, and surveys of pests, beneficial insects, and plant pathogens affecting small farms.
Ph.D. in Integrative BiosciencesJohnpaul Kagulire
Tuskegee UniversityJohnpaul Kagulire researches dietary mycotoxins in corn used as complementary food in Tanzania. His work connects food safety, nutrition, and global health with the goal of improving food security and health outcomes in vulnerable populations.
Master’s in Food ScienceEboni Major
Alabama A&M UniversityEboni Major studies the use of distillers’ dry grain in food products and brings extensive experience in distillation, blending, product development, and international agribusiness. Her work applies food-science innovation to nutrition and food-security challenges.
Master’s in Food ScienceSherman Cravens
Alabama A&M UniversitySherman Cravens researches value-added food products and improved access to processing resources for goat meat and dairy. Working with Cooperative Extension, his project supports small farmers through educational webinars, hands-on workshops, and practical product-development knowledge.
CHFP Honorees
Ph.D. in Agribusiness, Applied Economics & Agriscience EducationOmowunmi Odeyomi
North Carolina A&T State UniversityOmowunmi Odeyomi researches agricultural risk management, farmer decision-making, crop insurance, and the resilience of underserved farming populations.
Master’s in Food MicrobiologySandesh Chapagain
University of Maryland Eastern ShoreSandesh Chapagain studies food-borne zoonotic pathogens in poultry products, connecting veterinary science, microbiology, food safety, and public health.
Master’s in Veterinary ScienceEmmanuel Kuufire
Tuskegee UniversityEmmanuel Kuufire researches the in-silico detection of genetic markers in foodborne pathogens and works to advance food safety, veterinary science, and global health.
Master’s in Sustainable AgricultureJuliana Noi
Lincoln University of MissouriJuliana Noi studies sustainable agricultural practices and the effects of goat silvopasture systems on forest ecosystems, with an emphasis on practical education for farmers and students.
M.S. in Agricultural and Environmental SystemsKwadwo Antwi-Wiafe
North Carolina A&T State UniversityKwadwo Antwi-Wiafe researches international agricultural trade and the effects of the African Growth and Opportunity Act on agricultural exports using pairwise gravity modeling.
Graduate Student in Sustainable AgriculturePeter Owolabi
Lincoln University of MissouriPeter Owolabi researches climate-smart agricultural practices and their adoption in response to climate change. His work connects scientific research with practical strategies for resilient food systems.
Ph.D. in Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental SciencesOlabisi Tolulope Somefun
North Carolina A&T State UniversityOlabisi Tolulope Somefun integrates soil-moisture sensors, plant sensors, and crop models to improve real-time irrigation scheduling and agricultural water use.
M.Sc. in Integrated Animal Health SystemsMatthew Olaniyi Akindoyin
North Carolina A&T State UniversityMatthew Olaniyi Akindoyin studies milk quality and natural antimicrobial strategies for addressing bovine mastitis, animal welfare, and food security.
Master’s in Food Science and BiotechnologyYvette Mukunzi
Delaware State UniversityYvette Mukunzi researches Indigenous African foods consumed in the United States, using advanced nutrient analysis to support diet quality, nutrition education, and food security.
Environmental Science and Agricultural & Environmental SciencesSara Gutierrez Diaz
Tuskegee UniversitySara Gutierrez Diaz studies environmental sustainability, water resources, hydraulic modeling, drought impacts, and geospatial tools that help communities strengthen climate resilience.
CHFP Mentors
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Studies and SciencesChristopher Bacon, Ph.D.
Santa Clara University
Northwest Regional Extension Associate, Food Science Cornell AgriTechCollins Bugingo, Ph.D.
Cornell University
Founder, Mezclada & Host, The Transcendent Farmer PodcastEmily Reno
Director, Agricultural Law InstituteEbony Woodruff, LL.M., J.D.
Southern University Law Center
Associate Professor, City and Regional PlanningKareem Usher, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University
Chair and Associate Professor, Food StudiesKristin Reynolds, Ph.D.
The New School
Professor and Director, Center for Food Systems and Community TransformationKim Niewolny, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech
Teaching Associate Professor, Human Nutrition & FoodsMegan Govindan, Ph.D.
West Virginia University
Associate Director, Center for Integrated Agricultural SystemsMichelle Miller, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin
Director, Carver Integrative Sustainability Center; 1890 Extension AdministratorRaymon Shange, Ph.D.
Tuskegee University
Research Scientist