Archive for January, 2009

29 January, 2009 by Edwin Categories :
AAMU
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Environmental Officials Establish First HBCU Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jerome Saintjones, (256) 372-5607

A&M, Environmental Officials Establish First HBCU Center

Huntsville, Ala. —- The signing of a landmark agreement by Alabama A&M University, state and national environmental officials Thursday, January 29, helped to launch the first watershed management center located on a historically black university campus.

AAMU Interim President Beverly Edmond; Jim Giattina, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Water Management Division Director; Trey Glenn, director, Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM); Dr. Robert W. Taylor, dean, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Dr. Teresa M. Orok, AAMU vice president for institutional research, planning and sponsored programs; and Dr. Teferi Tsegaye, director of the new Center; signed a joint memorandum of understanding to designate AAMU as a Center of Excellence in Watershed Management.

Giattini said the Center designation is “a well-earned” distinction that will be monitored and evaluated for its effectiveness.

ADEM’s Glenn noted that local stakeholders must play a key role in helping to sustain and protect water quality.

Edmond said “those who populate this planet have an awesome responsibility to leave the planet better off than it is today.” Edmond stated that the new Center offers AAMU a unique and great
opportunity to serve because “universities must use their intellectual capital to benefit society.”

Watershed management involves the development and carrying out of plans that protect and improve large-area water drainage that impacts plant, animal and human communities within a massive but defined watershed boundary.

Among the parts of a watershed such centers attempt to study and manage include water supply, water quality, water rights, drainage, storm water runoff, and the overall planning and utilization of watersheds. These centers play a major role in pulling together the key players in watershed management, including landowners, land use agencies, environmental specialists, and many others.

For additional information, contact Dr. Tsegaye at (256) 372-4219.

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Caption: Tsegaye, Taylor, Giattina, Edmond, Orok and Glenn.