Florida A&M University (FAMU) announces George E. Montgomery, II, as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) liaison to the University. In his new role, Montgomery will advise and assist FAMU communities, students, and faculty – as well as farmers, ranchers, foresters, and others – on USDA programs and initiatives.
Montgomery’s experience as a USDA liaison and 1890 program manager for the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) includes working directly with congressional offices, agricultural industry representatives, and federal and state government agencies to accomplish common objectives within those established by the USDA.
“We are fortunate to have a visionary and experienced USDA liaison and 1890 program manager join our University with many years of agricultural and program management experience and leadership to aid in our land-grant outreach efforts as well 1890 program scholarships,” said Robert W. Taylor, Ph.D., dean and director of Land Grant Programs for the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS).
Montgomery also served as USDA liaison at West Virginia State University from 2016-2020 where he recently planned and fostered partnerships for the execution of an OPPE led National USDA Summit with West Virginia State Food and Agriculture Council members and community leaders. He also led the national effort to fulfill the OPPE National Office’s requirements for the 2020 USDA/1890 Scholar Program Scholarship application.
On-campus, Montgomery will be based within the CAFS offices in the Perry-Paige Building to facilitate interactions with faculty and students. He may be also be reached by email at george.montgomery@usda.gov and by phone at (202) 596-4605.
A native of Lexington, Mississippi, Montgomery brings more than 20 years of experience planning, managing, executing, evaluating, and facilitating a full range of USDA programs and operations management. He holds a Master of Science in Soil Science, from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science from Alcorn State University.
The USDA OPPE develops and maintains partnerships focused on solutions to challenges facing rural and underserved communities in the United States, and connects those communities to the education, tools, and resources available to them through USDA programs and initiatives.
USDA liaisons serve as key USDA representatives in communities across America linking 1890 Land-Grant Institutions to vital USDA services and programs. The 1890 Land-Grant Institutions National Program delivers high quality agricultural research, education, and extension programs and produces skilled graduates in agricultural sciences through its partnership with the 19 historically black universities that were established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890. These institutions strengthen research, extension and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences, and attract more students into careers in agriculture, food, natural resources, and human sciences.
