Six faculty from Zamorano University in Honduras visited the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) from February 12-14 to strengthen research, student internships and service-learning collaborations with The Ohio State University.
The Zamorano delegation consisted of Dr. Luis Osorio, Academic Dean; Dr. Erika Tenorio, Director of the Department of Environmental Science and Rural Development; Dr. Rogel Castillo, Director of the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Production; Dr. Rommel Reconco, Director of the Department of Agribusiness Management; Dr. Mayra Marquez, Director of the Department of Food Science and Technology; and Dr. Adela Acosta Marchetti, Director of the General Studies Curriculum.
“Zamorano is a premiere agricultural university in Central America and provides an excellent platform for future cooperation,” according to Dr. Mark Erbaugh, Director of CFAES’ International Programs in Agriculture.
CFAES’ linkages with Zamorano were initiated more than ten years ago by Dr. Luis Canas, Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology, who completed his B.S. degree there, and serves as President of Zamorano’s International Alumni Association.
The Zamorano delegation was led by Dr. Luis Osorio, Academic Dean, who delivered a seminar to CFAES faculty and other prospective Ohio State collaborators on Zamorano’s unique educational approach built on a philosophy of “learning by doing”.
Associate Dean for Extension, Dr. Roger Rennekamp, and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Dr. Gary Pierzynski, welcomed the group to Ohio State’s campus before they continued their visit with CFAES and College of Engineering faculty. Other CFAES departments or units that have been working with counterparts at Zamorano include Entomology; Animal Sciences; Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering; Food Science and Technology; School of Environment and Natural Resources; the Ohio Agricultural Internship Program; Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership; and 4-H.
A Memorandum of Understanding, originally signed in 2014, is set to be renewed between Ohio State and Zamorano this month to provide for continued cooperation and exploration of collaborative opportunities.
“This visit will help promote the legacy of Zamorano students who have pursued academic internships at Ohio State, and who have chosen to return to CFAES to complete their graduate education,” says Luis Canas. “The productive interaction that occurred during the visit will position Ohio State well in strengthening ties with Zamorano University and in becoming one of its closer partner universities in the U.S.”