Bumpers College Alumni/Recruiting Event in Panama

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Professor emeritus Paul Noland

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Officials with the University of Arkansas and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences will attend an alumni event in Panama that honors the university’s long-standing ties with the Latin American nation.

The event is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on Friday, June 14, in the Diamond Room of the Waldorf Astoria in Panama City, Panama. It’s open to all alumni and friends of the University of Arkansas.

“We are proud of our relationship with the Republic of Panama, which dates back more than 60 years,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “We are also proud of our relationship with President Ricardo Martinelli and are fortunate that we can count him as one of our graduates. Our partnership already includes cultural and academic exchanges in the areas of outreach and education, and we want to build on those programs.

“We’re also hoping to draw additional talented students to campus as we continue growing the agricultural industry for both Arkansas and Panama.”

Officials scheduled to make the trip include Chris Wyrick, vice chancellor for university advancement; Graham Stewart, associate vice chancellor and executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association; John Reap, president of the Arkansas Alumni Association; Mike Vayda, dean of the Bumpers College; Dan Hendrix, president and CEO of the World Trade Center Arkansas; Bryan Hill, assistant dean for student recruitment and international programs in the College of Engineering; Mitchell Spearman, director of development for the Bumpers College; and Michelle Pribbernow, coordinator of student recruitment for the Bumpers College.

“This is my first opportunity to visit our first international alumni chapter,” said Stewart. “I’m excited about meeting and celebrating with dedicated alumni who understand the importance of the relationship between the University of Arkansas and Panama. John Reap, our board president, and I are looking forward to meeting with the chapter leadership and about 100 alumni to encourage the chapter to be even more active.”

The Bumpers College delegation is visiting Panama to renew acquaintances and strengthen relationships established in the 1950s when the University of Arkansas became the first U.S. land grant university to establish a foreign agricultural mission. Created through the Point Four Program, it helped Panama develop programs in agriculture, extension, teaching and research, and the relationship still exists today.

 “This trip and event is to celebrate the more than 60-year relationship that the U of A has with Panama,” said Vayda. “We want to engage with our alumni who are either from or living in Panama.”

The agricultural mission program began in 1951 and through 1956 sent 24 university personnel to Panama. Paul Noland, professor emeritus and former head of the animal and poultry science department, lived in DiVisa, Panama, from 1955 to 1957.

Noland helped develop a research program in animal nutrition and management that spurred the growth of the agricultural industry.

In 2010, Martinelli presented Noland with the “Vasco Nunez de Balboa Award,” the highest civilian honor given by the Panamanian government.

“I’m happy to return to Panama and engage with friends who welcomed me so warmly in August 2012,” Vayda said. “We’ve had other visits, and they are all building on the relationships Paul Noland and others started in the 1950s. We want to inform the next generation of potential U of A Panamanian students about the great opportunities we offer. We’re also hoping to continue exploring potential opportunities for our students in global immersion opportunities.”

The goal of the continuing relationship is to increase the market for Arkansas agriculture, construction and industrial products in Panama, and to expand agricultural, industrial and technological connections. Panama boasts both the Panama Canal and one of world’s fastest growing economies and is expected to play an increasing role in international trade as well as becoming a more popular tourist destination.

Bumpers College officials also intend to add to the number of Panamanian students on the Fayetteville campus, which is currently at around 100.