The FFAR Fellows Program has endowed me with the tools and skills needed to take my graduate education to the next level through both professional development and personal accountability in setting and achieving my goals, for my degree and my future career.
Alison Deviney
North Carolina State University, FFAR Fellow 2018-2021
Watch Dr. Rockey’s retirement celebration from February 2022 with a special panel featuring the FFAR Fellows
FFAR Fellows Program & Professional Development
Research and innovation are essential to tackling critical food and agriculture challenges – and such advancements are significantly more valuable when widely discussed and implemented. The FFAR Fellows Program offers not only professional development opportunities and mentorship, but also research opportunities. These professional development trainings teach participants to convey their findings to policymakers, farmers and industry stakeholders, ensuring their results advance food and agriculture.
Fellows must secure an external sponsor to fund their participation and comply with FFAR’s matching requirement. These trainings cost $10,000 a year, and FFAR provides $5,000 annually to participants who secure the matching funds. Fellows must secure the remaining $5,000 a year for each of the Program’s three years ($15,000 total) to participate in these trainings.
Securing additional funding for professional development puts some Fellows at a disadvantage. Fellows from smaller universities or those with less-established research departments may struggle to secure the funding to participate in the Program. Additionally, fellows whose research falls outside of what is traditionally sponsored by organizations may find securing these funds difficult. Not only does securing additional funding limit some fellows, but it also stifles the diversity of perspectives that are represented in food and agriculture.
The Rockey FFAR Fellows Fund aims to make funding available to all Fellows, thereby easing the financial burden on applicants and increasing participation in the Program. The Fund can also bolster the diversity of participants and their research and increase participants’ effectiveness as scientists.
Participating as a FFAR Fellow has been transformational in evolving my professional skills, notably communication, networking and leadership skills. It has provided me the tools and resources to get out of my ‘grad bubble’ and think outside the box. I feel empowered to consider career choices outside academic research.
Lovepreet Singh
University of Maryland, FFAR Fellow 2018-2021
Supporting Young Scientists
Dr. Rockey has prioritized supporting the next generation of food and agriculture scientists since joining FFAR in 2015. She understands that pioneering science is only possible with a diverse, creative scientific workforce. Under Dr. Rockey’s leadership, FFAR has established five fellowships, grants and awards that provide unique research opportunities for the next generation of scientists.
By championing the next generation of food and agriculture scientists, the Foundation is also taking an important step in making agriculture an attractive field for aspiring scientists.... Our goal is to train, encourage, and inspire future generations of agricultural and food scientists.
SALLY ROCKEY, PH.D.
Executive Director
Excerpt from Dr. Rockey’s 2017
testimony at the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s hearing, “Agricultural Research: Perspectives on Past and Future Successes for the 2018 Farm Bill”
Funding the Future
By contributing to the Rockey FFAR Fellows Fund, we can advance food and agriculture research by providing young researchers professional skills that allow them to broaden the scope, reach and influence of their work.
Contributors
Fellow Innovator
Fellow Benefactor
Fellow Supporter
Fellow Friend
Your Contribution
Donors who contribute $1,000 or more will receive the following benefits:
- Fellow Innovator
-
Amount
$100,000 and above
Benefits
- Large logo / name and website link listed on Rockey FFAR Fellows Fund webpage
- Contributor logo and website link listed on FFAR’s primary contributor webpage at the Champion level or higher
- Invitation to annual reception with FFAR’s executive director, board members and other leaders at the forefront of innovative food and agriculture research
- Coordinate with our communications team to amplify messaging around our partnership on social media, at the request of the contributor
- Full Fellow Benefactor-level benefits, listed below
- Fellow Benefactor
-
Benefits
- Medium logo / name and website link listed on Rockey FFAR Fellows Fund webpage
- Full Fellow Supporter-level benefits, listed below
- Fellow Supporter*
-
Benefits
- Small logo / name and website link listed on Rockey FFAR Fellows Fund webpage
- Full Fellow Friend-level benefits, listed below
- Fellow Friend
-
Benefits
- Eligible to be featured in a FFAR E-Newsletter Partner Profile
- Contributor name and website link listed on Rockey FFAR Fellows Fund webpage
- Contributor name and website link listed on FFAR’s primary contributor webpage at the Friend level ($10,000+)
- Recognition in our Annual Report that we distribute to key food and agriculture stakeholders, including those in government, corporations and nonprofits ($10,000+)
