Boozman, Shah Open 'Food for Thought' Series

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U.S. Sen. John Boozman and Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas debuts a “Food for Thought” lecture series next week and the inaugural speakers are U.S. Sen. John Boozman and Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The event, titled “A Sustainable Model for 21^st Century Development,” is set for 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 5, in Old Main’s Giffels Auditorium on campus. The open forum discussion is open to all students. Overflow seating is available in Old Main rooms 203 and 204. Boozman and Shah will both make brief presentations before opening up the floor to questions.

“I am grateful to Senator Boozman and Dr. Shah for accepting the university’s invitation to participate in this new lecture series,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “We are excited about having these distinguished guests on campus. Their participation will give our students the chance to learn more about important public policy issues that will be relevant to them in their careers and as citizens. Agricultural research, development and economy are significant to our state, the nation and the world. The participation of Senator Boozman and Dr. Shah will make for a great beginning to the ‘Food for Thought’ series.”

The messages in the “Food for Thought” series are intended to focus on food, family and the environment, which corresponds with the goal of the Bumpers College to advance the business of foods and the impact of foods on human health, environmental sustainability and human quality of life.

“The Bumpers College is proud and excited to host Senator Boozman and Administrator Shah on campus to inaugurate our ‘Food for Thought’ Honors College lecture series,” said Michael Vayda, dean of the Bumpers College. “Senator Boozman and Dr. Shah play key roles in advancing issues and policy pertaining to food, family and the environment. Their messages will resonate with everyone because those issues cross all boundaries. This dovetails with our core mission in the Bumpers College. Every day our students and faculty work diligently to improve the lives of Arkansans, our neighbors across the country and globally. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students and faculty.”

Boozman and Shah are spending the day in Arkansas and will drive together from Little Rock to Fayetteville. In addition to meeting with students and individuals, the pair is planning to visit businesses and explore opportunities to continue working together in the public and private sector. In addition to sustainability, the two also work together on agriculture development and global opportunities for Arkansas to make a difference nationally and internationally.

Boozman, who grew up in Fort Smith, was sworn in as U.S. senator on Jan. 5, 2011. He serves on four committees – agriculture, nutrition and forestry; appropriations; science and transportation; and veterans affairs.

He played football at the University of Arkansas before graduating from the Southern College of Optometry in 1977 and co-founded a family eye care business with his brother. He served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the state’s 3rd District.

As ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, he helped ensure veterans have a smooth transition to civilian life and authored policy provisions to include improvements to treatments for service members with eye trauma. He also reinstated veteran work study benefits under the GI Bill.

Boozman was the ranking member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee, which holds jurisdiction over water resources development, conservation and management, water pollution control, water infrastructure and hazardous waste cleanup.

He also helped improve Arkansas’ position in the global trade market, creating the Arkansas World Trade Center in Rogers in 2007.

Shah was sworn in on Dec. 31, 2009, and is the 16^th administrator of USAID. He leads the efforts of more than 9,600 professionals in 80 missions around the world.

Shah managed the U.S. government’s response to the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; co-chaired the State Department’s first review of American diplomacy and development operations; and is leading President Obama’s “Feed the Future” food security initiative.

Prior to his appointment as administrator, Shah was undersecretary for research, education and economics as a chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He launched the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which increased the status and funding of agriculture research.

Before joining the Obama administration, Shah worked for seven years with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, including as director of agriculture development in the Global Development Program and as director of strategic opportunities.

The Detroit native graduated from the University of Michigan, attended the London School of Economics, earned his master’s degree in health economics from the Wharton School of Business and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.