USAID Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Alcorn State University

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Alcorn State University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate increased collaboration and promote a shared pursuit of more inclusive and sustainable social and economic development, with a particular focus on research in the areas of agriculture, climate change, and science and technology.

This partnership is the most recent action under USAID’s Minority-Serving Institution Partnership Initiative, which underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in the federal workforce through the hiring, retention, employment and career advancement of applicants from under-represented groups. Through this partnership, USAID will invite Alcorn students to explore careers in public service through internships, fellowships and other career opportunities. This MOU will harness Alcorn’s expertise and cutting-edge research capabilities in sustainable watershed systems, agricultural research, and climate change analytics. Specifically, USAID aims to bring Alcorn, Caribbean universities, and regional entities together to create linkages and the sharing of information and knowledge.

Founded in 1871, Alcorn State University was the first Black land grant college established in the United States and has a long history as one of America’s most respected Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This partnership furthers USAID’s commitment to build a more diverse pipeline of talent and develop a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce, and it will harness Alcorn State University’s cutting-edge research capabilities to solve global development challenges.

Under its Minority Serving Institution Partnerships Initiative, USAID has now signed MOUs with Delaware State University, Tuskegee University, and Florida International University .