Chavonda Jacobs-Young
Chavonda Jacobs-Young (born 1967) is an American government executive who served as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics from 2022 to 2025. Jacobs-Young was previously the administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, first appointed in February 2014; she was the first female and person of color to lead the agency. In 1998, Jacobs-Young became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in paper science.
Quotes
[edit]- We really want to be able to grow our food, feed, fiber and fuel in a way that's sustainable and resilient
- I'm very excited about that opportunity to really drive the vision for the future . . . on what we should be focused on for three years.
- I am a lifelong learner; one best practice I’ve instituted that works for us is a custom of debriefing and lessons learned.
- At USDA, we are committed to delivering solutions to America’s high- priority agricultural challenges. These challenges include producing enough safe and nutritious food to feed a growing population while being good stewards of our natural resources.
- I am excited about the many recent technological advancements and the availability of breakthrough technologies that support and lead innovation in America’s high-tech food and agricultural economy.
- By helping to protect U.S. agriculture, increase agricultural productivity, and increase resilience of U.S. farms these innovations contribute to farm productivity and profitability and expand the ability for U.S. leadership to address the global challenge to “feed everyone.”
- The ability of the American farm sector to feed far more people today than 6 decades ago, while using less farmland and fewer workers and reducing the environmental impact of food production, is testimony to the impact of agricultural research and innovation.
- USDA is uniquely positioned to defend agriculture from existing and emerging pests and diseases, another major requirement for food security. USDA science agencies maintain an in-house infrastructure of expertise, facilities, and long-term high-risk research and provide resources for agricultural research outside at the land-grant and other universities as well. A great example of one of those invaluable resources is the germplasm collections at ARS.
- These are the backbone of enhancing productivity, minimizing risks, and combatting emerging threats to production.
- I was introduced to agriculture while pursuing a college degree in pulp and paper science and technology at North Carolina State University. While a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, I had the opportunity to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture in their efforts to advance agriculture through research, education, and extension.
