
CEGFSD
Meet Our Team
The CEGFSD’s management structure is made up of four key governance entities: a governing board, an executive committee, a core administration, and an advisory council. The core administrative function is implemented by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in conjunction with the 1890 Universities Foundation. The governing board is made up of representatives from the 19 participating 1890 land-grant universities. It ensures fair representation of each member institution and a free flow of information. An executive committee consisting of PDs and Co-PDs is responsible for overall decision-making, strategy, prioritization, and evaluation of the Center’s activities. The core administration comprising a Center director, associate director, and a program coordinator is responsible for general administrative and financial management. The external advisory council is responsible for providing recommendations to the governing board on the Center’s strategic direction and implementation of project activities.

Executive Committee
| Name | University |
| Dr. Moses Kairo, Director | University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
| Dr. Stephan Tubene, Associate Director | University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
| Dr. Dovi Alipoe | Alcorn State University |
| Dr. Marikis Alvarez | Delaware State University |
| Dr. Matthew Blair | Tennessee State University |
| Dr. Eunice Bonsi | Tuskegee University |
| Dr. Michelle Corley | Central State University |
| Ms. Harriet Paul | Florida A&M University |
| Dr. Jose Ulises Toledo | Southern University |
| Dr. Osei Yeboah | North Carolina A&T State University |
Advisory Council
| Name | Title / Organization |
| Dr. Sunday Ekesi | Director of Research and Partnerships / International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology ICIPE |
| Dr. Albert Essel | Executive Administrator / Association of Extension Administrators AEA |
| Ms. Sylvia Megret | President and Chief Operating Director / Agriculture Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance ACDI- VOCA |
| Dr. Francisco Mello | Manager, Center of Knowledge Management and Horizontal Cooperation / Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture IICA |
| Mr. Bryan Norrington | Director / Office of International Research Engagement and Cooperation USA-OIREG |
| Dr. Julie Shortridge | Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist / Virginia Tech |
| Dr. Alton Thompson | Executive Director / Association of 1890 Research Directors ARD |
| Ms. Beattra Wilson | Assistant Director, Urban and Community Forestry / USDA Forest Service USDA |
Core Administration

Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D., DIC
CEGFSD Director

Stephan L. Tubene, Ph.D.
CEGFSD Associate Director

Maricelle Saullo
CEGFSD Assistant Director

Carlos V. Cruz
Program Coordinator

Mahsa Sheikhi Karizaki
Data Analyst & Visualization

