Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences
MANRRS is a student group that provides a local and national network of support for K-State students enrolled in agriculture, forestry, related sciences and other interdisciplinary subjects, such as rural sociology, applied anthropology, math, chemistry and biology.
K-State’s College of Agriculture MANRRS Chapter received its charter in January 2002. It was formed to meet the academic, pre-professional and social needs of ethnic minority students within the College of Agriculture and other students across the campus.
The College of Agriculture MANRRS Chapter received its chapter charter in January 2002. Our student organization was formed to meet the academic, pre-professional, and social needs of ethnic minority students within the College of Agriculture as well as other colleges across the campus.
Leadership Team
2023-2024 Executive Committee
- Dr. Zelia Wiley – Chapter Advisor
- Dr. Lonnie Hobbs Jr. and Summer Santillana– Chapter Co-advisors
- Raymond Thomas - Graduate Student Co-advisor
- Madi Neal – President
- Leah Roane – Undergraduate VP
- Catherine Obiribea Ofori-Bah – Graduate VP
- Lailah Bias – Secretary
- Abena Damuah – Treasurer
- Bianca Blair and Jocelyn Armendariz – Public Relations
- Tirah Daniels – Parliamentarian
- Charles Carpenter III, April Mason-Taylor and Adetola Lamidi - Graduate Representatives
- Brian Owuoche - Undergraduate Representative
Why should I join?
There’s no doubt your college professors want you to learn a lot in their classrooms. Student clubs and organizations can provide other important lessons outside the classroom. Here are some of what MANRRS offers:
- Interaction with peers.
- Informal interaction with faculty and staff (great contacts for recommendations and other help).
- Line item for your resume.
- Demonstrates interest in your discipline.
- Group-sponsored social activities.
- National career contacts.
- Inclusion in MANRRS national directory.
- Meet outstanding professionals in College Minority Role Model Series.
- Scholarship, internship and career information.
- Academic action alerts.
- Tutoring in technical agriculture courses.
How do I join?
You can become a member by contacting another member or chapter advisor. K-State MANRRS welcomes members without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, handicap or age.
Membership dues are $10 a semester or $20 a year. Pay your dues here.
MANRRS has several types of members:
- Regular: Those whose disciplines are included in the agricultural and natural resource sciences.
- Affiliate: Those whose disciplines are related to, but not usually included in, the agricultural and natural resource sciences.
- Associate: Those who are granted membership based on their contributions to the agricultural and natural resource sciences.
Individual members are designated as:
- Undergraduate/Graduate Student: Enrolled full-time in an accredited educational institution and/or program that leads to the award of an associate or undergraduate (post baccalaureate professional or graduate) degree.
- Professional: Working and not enrolled as a full-time student.
- Special (Supporting Member or Honorary Member): Contact the Chapter Advisor for qualifications.
Objectives
The objectives of MANRRS are to
- Increase the number of students studying the agricultural sciences and related fields at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Emphasize the importance of agricultural sciences and related fields.
- Keep students abreast of state, national, and international trends in the agricultural sciences and related fields.
- Encourage scholarly achievement, advancement, and excellence among members.
- Develop leadership qualities in students.
- Aid in the recruitment and placement of ethnic minorities in professional positions in the agricultural sciences, forestry, and natural resources.
- Encourage research and its dissemination by undergraduate and graduate students and/or professionals.
- Promote career and academic counseling for undergraduate and graduate students.
- Provide information on employment opportunities for participants.
History
MANRRS started as a small group of minority students from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University. Their visit to The Pennsylvania State University in 1985 encouraged the Penn State students to form a campus organization for minority students studying agriculture. The Michigan State group had already established such an organization on their campus.
Out of this network activity was born the First Leadership Conference of Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources Association at Michigan State in 1986. In 1987 the second annual conference of Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources Association was held at The Pennsylvania State University. The third Annual Conference was hosted by the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. At this conference the name Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) was chosen, and the first set of national officers elected.
More than 50 universities now have chapters of MANRRS, and conferences are held annually at sites all around the United States. Approximately 900 students and professionals now attend this yearly event.
Kansas State College of Agriculture's journey in MANRRS began in 2002, when its chapter was chartered. Since then we have grown from four members to over twenty. We are proud to be a part of this great society.
Junior Chapters
Junior MANRRS is a pre-collegiate outreach program of the National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) for high school-aged and younger students to expose them to career pathways and educational possibilities in the food, agricultural, environmental and related sciences. Junior MANRRS members are affiliated with the National Society through membership with a local MANRRS chapter. Through Junior MANRRS college-level students connect pre-college aged students with networking opportunities and with other MANRRS student members, university faculty, and industry professionals.
Nicodemus Switzer/Jr. MANRRS Educational Camp:
Nicodemus Swtizer/Jr. MANRRS Educational Camp is a special camp that brings underrepresented youth to Kansas State University and the Kansas town of Nicodemus. The camp is an annual weeklong summer camp which includes two days at K-State and the rest of the week in Nicodemus. The camp introduces underrepresented youth to agriculture majors and careers. This is the second year that the DPO office has been involved in the coordination with Dr. JohnElla Holmes. Check out Nicodemus Switzer/Jr. MANRRS Educational Camp!
Neighborhood Academic & Athletic Association Jr. MANRRS Chapter
The Neighborhood Academic & Athletic Association Jr. MANRRS Chapter is a campaign in which they are redirecting the children back to the grassroots organizations. They are trying to combat the violence, education gap, and the destruction of the families in the neighborhood. They are getting children involved in the community and little league sports so there will be less chance of them getting into other less productive things. This is the first year MANRRS is partnering with this organization and we are hoping to help them accomplish their goals. Learn more about the Neighborhood Academic & Athletic Association.