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 Left image of NIFA Associate Director for Programs Dr. Dionne Toombs. Right image of NIFA Associate Director for Operations Drenda Williams.
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    Leading A USDA Agency With Passion and Purpose
    
  These Senior Leaders are Making History in Food and Agriculture

  March 4, 2024SharePrint Friendly Email Twitter Facebook
    
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    Sylvia Rainford, Public Affairs Specialist, Farm Production and Conservation, USDA

  As we conclude Black History Month and recognize the beginning of historic contributions of women’s accomplishments across the nation, we highlight the first Black female associate directors at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Serving in their roles simultaneously, these dynamic leaders are blazing a path for the future in food and agriculture.

  Dr. Dionne Toombs and Drenda Williams share similarities in their journey to senior leadership with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their journey to career success wasn’t exactly as planned, but each has achieved stellar accomplishments. Both have worked hard, learned and grown as they remained steadfast and prepared throughout their careers. When leadership opportunities became available, they were ready.  These two women are now key senior leaders with USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), one of the 29 agencies. USDA has nearly 100,000 employees.NIFA Associate Director for Programs Dr. Dionne Toombs smiles as she welcomes attendees during NIFA’s Day of Appreciation and award presentation at USDA in Washington, D.C. in August 2023.

NIFA Associate Director for Programs Dr. Dionne Toombs smiles as she welcomes attendees during NIFA’s Day of Appreciation and award presentation at USDA in Washington, D.C. in August 2023.Dr. Toombs, associate director for programs, oversees the agency’s more than 70 funding****programs and works closely with scientists, researchers, Land-grant institutions and other stakeholders nationwide. Williams, associate director for operations, oversees the agency’s Administrative and Operations office unit in addition to Budget, Communications, Reporting and the Office of Grants and Financial Management.Both Dr. Toombs and Williams work closely with NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra to elevate agency priority areas and carry out its mission. NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education and Extension to solve societal challenges.As NIFA’s current associate directors, Dr. Toombs and Williams made history as the first two Black women to hold the second-highest ranking agency position serving at the same time. Dr. Toombs also served as the acting director for more than a year prior to Dr. Misra’s arrival in May 2023.**Education: The Ticket to Success**Both Dr. Toombs and Williams credit their families, supportive and nurturing mentors and personal circumstances for instilling in them a strong desire to succeed through education.One of Dr. Toombs' first role models was her mother. Dr. Toombs remembers her mother attending the local community college with three of her four children in tow. As the children sat in the back of the classroom, Dr. Toombs said she remembers wondering why she was there instead of playing with her friends. Later in life, she appreciated her mother’s sacrifices to obtain a college degree which opened doors to greater possibilities for the entire family. She also felt very proud of her mother who graduated and later became a teacher.On the other hand, Williams’ strong desire to pursue education was spurred by her impoverished background. Throughout her career, that strong desire and drive propelled her to take risks or change course to take advantage of new opportunities to grow professionally. Williams has dedicated her life to public service and continues to strive for excellence supporting the USDA mission.**1890 Institutions: A Pathway to Prominence**Dr. Toombs, a Florida native, and Williams, a Missouri native, are proud graduates of 1890 historically black college and universities (HBCUs). Dr. Toombs received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in nutritional sciences from Howard University in Washington, D.C., her Master of Science degree in food science from Alabama A&M University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Bethune-Cookman University in Florida. She credits caring professors and mentors for her success.Dr. Toombs’ contributions to USDA’s agricultural research, education and Extension spans more than two decades. She served as director of the Office of Chief Scientist. She also headed NIFA’s Division of Nutrition and served as a national program leader for the Agriculture Food and Research Initiative (AFRI). Dr. Toombs began her career with USDA as a student intern with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.In high school, Williams remembered a guidance counselor informing her about USDA’s 1890 Land-grant institution scholarships and suggested she apply. Williams followed her guidance counselor’s advice and applied for the USDA 1890 Land-grant institution scholarship to study agriculture at the 1890 institution of her choice. Williams wanted to stay in Missouri so, in 1993, she selected Lincoln University and began her college career as one of the university’s first USDA 1890 scholars. When Williams graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture with an emphasis in natural resources, she made history in her family as a first-generation college graduate. In 2023, Williams was inducted into Lincoln University’s Hall of Fame for her numerous professional and personal achievements.NIFA Associate Director for Operations Drenda Williams speaks to 1890 Scholar students while visiting Alabama A&M University in October 2023. Williams also participated in a tour that showcased the university’s involvement in agriculture and food activities.

NIFA Associate Director for Operations Drenda Williams speaks to 1890 Scholar students while visiting Alabama A&M University in October 2023. Williams also participated in a tour that showcased the university’s involvement in agriculture and food activities.Williams’ USDA career, which spans nearly 30 years, began with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Missouri as a soil conservationist. After that, she has held many leader positions. She served as branch chief for diversity and recruitment for NRCS National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She also served as Acting State Conservationist, NRCS’s highest leadership position, in several states, including Oregon, Missouri and Texas. She joined NIFA in May 2020 as the director of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights and was promoted to Associate Director.**A Passion for Equity**When appointing Williams as NIFA’s associate director, Dr. Toombs emphasized that the agency needed strong leadership during the critical rebuilding period after an earlier relocation from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Toombs described Williams as the ideal candidate, highlighting her sharp mind, visionary outlook and proven efficiency and effectiveness. Dr. Toombs added that Williams could carry out the agency’s operations skillfully and offer needed strategic direction during this transition.Dr. Toombs, Williams and other NIFA senior leaders worked to rebuild NIFA’s staff from less than 100 when the agency first moved to Kansas City to 370 employees. Both are also working tirelessly to ensure NIFA is one of USDA’s cutting-edge agencies in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility through a diverse workforce and through the accessibility of its funding resources to all.Dr. Toombs and Williams have received awards for their innovative agency-wide initiatives, including diversity efforts, throughout their careers.**A Passion for Science**NIFA leadership team during the Employee Townhall in Kansas City with Secretary Vilsack.

NIFA leadership during the Secretary Vilsack’s employee town hall in Kansas City, MO.Dr. Toombs and Williams are passionate about USDA’s priorities and NIFA’s mission. Launched in 2023, NIFA’s new initiative, *From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals* (NextGen) affords both Toombs and the program staff the ability to shape a program that will ensure the next generation of agriculture and food leaders and workers are well equipped to handle the opportunities and challenges in their respective fields.As NIFA’s top leader for programs, Dr. Toombs said, “I am excited to see the positive impacts it will have on developing talented youth, strengthening the workforce, and advancing equity, inclusion and accessibility in the food and agriculture sector.” She is honored to steward this priority for the agency.As NIFA’s top operations leader, Williams expresses a daily passion about USDA’s priority of making the department and its agencies great places to work. She is diligent in her efforts to ensure equity in its program delivery. Williams said, “I look forward to carrying out initiatives that increase agency efficiencies by automating agency-wide processes. I want to ensure all NIFA employees have the tools and resources to be successful and help them achieve work-life balance through the use of additional administrative flexibilities.”*At the time of production, Sylvia Rainford was serving a detail position with NIFA's Associate Directors' Office.*
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