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The World Food Prize Foundation announced today that Dr. Elsa Murano, the Director of the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University, has joined the Council of Advisors.
“On behalf of the Council of Advisors Chairman Paul Schickler and all of us at the World Food Prize, I want to say that we are exceptionally fortunate to have Dr. Murano’s breadth of experience and expertise available to our Foundation,” said Amb. Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation. “Given her role leading the Borlaug Institute at Texas A&M University, it will be especially meaningful to have her join our Council as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of Dr. Borlaug’s passing.”
On the Council, Dr. Murano will review, advise and guide the World Food Prize leadership on their policies as well as the design and implementation of Foundation programs. Other responsibilities delegated to Dr. Murano include participating in appointing members of the World Food Prize Laureate Selection Committee and endorsing the Selection Committee’s choice of a new Laureate each year.
“Dr. Borlaug was a dear friend and mentor, so needless to say, it is a supreme honor to be asked to be a part of an organization that meant so much to him,” said Dr. Murano. “I am also humbled to represent my colleagues at the Borlaug Institute at Texas A&M through this appointment, as they work every day in continuing Dr. Borlaug’s legacy to elevate farmers out of poverty and hunger through science.”
Dr. Murano was appointed the Director of the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture in June of 2012. Prior to that she served as the Dean and Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, before being named the first woman and first hispanic President of the university. During her tenure, she reversed the declining enrollment in the College, secured significant funding from the state and from private industry, and rebranded the agencies to better reflect the important role of agriculture as well as the life sciences. Her initiatives as president resulted in a significant increase in state funding, remodeling of the Memorial Student Center and Military Walk, and construction of the Agriculture and Life Sciences building complex.
Dr. Murano received her PhD in Food Science and Technology from Virginia Tech along with her Masters in Anaerobic Microbiology. She is a graduate of Florida International University with a degree in Biological Sciences.
Press Contact:
Nicole Barreca, Director of Communications and Events
+1.515.245.3735 (direct), +1.563.271.2995 (cell), or nbarreca@worldfoodprize.org
About the World Food Prize: The World Food Prize is an international award that honors individuals who have improved the quality, quantity, or availability of food world-wide. The Prize was founded by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize, for his work that contributed to increases in agricultural outputs which was termed the Green Revolution. Since then, the Prize has been awarded to 48 worthy individuals during the Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium. The Symposium, also known as the Borlaug Dialogue, is a week of events dedicated to an issue surrounding food insecurity or hunger each year.
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