The College of Science would like to congratulate Dr. Elinor Lichtenberg for being named a 2022 E. Kika De La Garza Science Fellow by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This fellowship program links USDA and Hispanic-Serving Institutions to help build awareness in Hispanic communities of USDA services, resources, and employment opportunities. Since 1998, these annual fellowships have recognized highly accomplished staff and faculty at HSIs, which are accredited and degree-granting institutions of higher education with a full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more.

"I am excited and honored to be selected as a 2022 USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellow. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how USDA's resources can help advance research at UNT and in my lab," said Dr. Lichtenberg. "My students are currently investigating impacts of cattle grazing management on pollinators, and we are excited to better integrate this research with USDA staff and priorities."

Dr. Lichtenberg is a behavioral and community ecologist interested in how plant-pollinator interactions are affected by global change. Her research aims to help humans better understand how to conserve species that help ecosystems thrive, which requires understanding everything from how pollinators and other flower-visiting insects interact to studying how bees make decisions about which plants to visit for food.

Dr. Lichtenberg says she is looking forward to learning about training and career opportunities for UNT students through her fellowship with USDA.

"These fellowships provide a unique professional development experience and exposure that benefits young people and helps advance the Biden-Harris administration's goal of increasing equity for underserved communities across all of rural America," said Dr. Lisa R. Ramírez, director of USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. "After the E. Kika De La Garza fellows meet with USDA leaders, they gain insights, perspectives, knowledge and collaboration opportunities to share with students and colleagues in their home institutions and communities."

To learn more about the USDA's 2022 USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellows, visit https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/06/15/usda-selects-2022-class-e-kika-de-la-garza-fellows

To learn more about Dr. Lichtenberg's lab, visit https://biology.unt.edu/lichtenberg-lab