Three professors awarded promotions
In August, three faculty members were promoted within the College of Agriculture.
Dr. Yixiang Xu was promoted to professor at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS). Xu specializes in food processing and engineering. She received a doctorate from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in food science and technology; a master’s degree from Southwest Agriculture University, Chongqing, China in food science and technology; and a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Agriculture University, Chongqing, China in food engineering. Xu’s research interests are in applications of nanotechnology in food processing and food packaging to improve food quality and safety. Also this summer, the American Chemical Society (ACS) named Xu as an associate editor of its newest publication, ACS Food Science & Technology, which will launch in 2021 and focus on research in all areas of food science, technology, engineering and nutrition.
Dr. Shuxin Ren, who specializes in plant and soil sciences at ARS, was promoted to professor. His research interests are plant telomere biology, molecular mechanisms of plant environmental stress tolerance and identification of DNA markers and their use in breeding programs. Ren earned a doctorate in genetics from Texas A&M University and studied plant breeding and genetics at the Beijing Agricultural University in Beijing, China.
Dr. Leonard Githinji was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor with the Virginia Cooperative Extension program at VSU. Githinji specializes in sustainable and urban agriculture. He earned a doctorate in agronomy and soils from Auburn University; a master’s degree in physical land resources from Ghent University in Belgium; and a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. His research interests include sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, enhancing the viability of limited-resource farmers, urban food systems and integrated crop-livestock production systems.
Connection is published by Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture. Special thanks to everyone who contributed content, photos, ideas and time to this edition.
Executive Editor: Michelle Olgers; Writer/Editor: Lorraine Blackwell; Art Direction, Graphic Design: Brittany R. Hughes
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©2020 Virginia State University College of Agriculture
Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, Dean/1890 Extension Administrator; Dr. Wondi Mersie, Associate Dean/Director of Research; Dr. Janine P. Woods, Associate Administrator VSU Virginia Cooperative Extension; Dr. Michelle Corley, Interim Chair, Associate Professor Department of Agriculture; Dr. Crystal Wynn, Chair and Associate Professor Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Dr. Berkita Bradford, Chair and Associate Professor Department of Hospitality Management
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