A new endowment has been created at the Herbert College of Agriculture to assist graduate students in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications (ALEC). Through work with Dr. Christopher Stripling who serves as Department Head in ALEC, Dr. Robert L. Strong, Jr., associate professor at Texas A&M University, created an endowment with the goal of recognizing his parents. Together, Robert and his wife Jen have funded the Connie and Robert Strong Excellence Endowment.

“My hope would be the endowment would provide opportunities for first-generation graduate student mentorship in ALEC as well as serve as a recruiting tool for the department to meet graduate recruitment, retention, and scholarly goals,” says Strong. 

When asked what excites him most about the new endowment, Strong stated, “the opportunity to expand graduate program inclusion and access to those who may be hindered in their pursuit of a graduate degree. I am a first-generation student and mentor first-generation graduate students. Opportunities to support, develop, and prepare graduate students for post-graduate success are critical to solve global societal issues for the private sector, government, and academia.”

To learn more about the Herbert College Department of ALEC, visit their website. Steps to contribute to the Connie and Robert Strong Excellence Endowment can be found online.