Top USDA Official Stopping By COD In Palm Desert To Talk Ag Jobs

The following is a Dec. 5, 2023, news release from College of the Desert:

PALM DESERT, CA — College of the Desert (COD) welcomes USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) Administrator Daniel B. Whitley to highlight opportunities for minority students within the USDA and discuss the agricultural economy in a Valley known for its unique crops.

The informal conversation will be held Wednesday, December 6 at 2 p.m. in Boardroom Building C on the Palm Desert campus.

Whitley will meet with Interim Superintendent/President Laura Hope and Vice President of Instruction Val Martinez Garcia. The administrators will join students and faculty for an information session with Whitley covering internships, work and other opportunities with the USDA.

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), COD is an excellent forum for dialogue on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the government agency.

The information session will also cover the USDA Agricultural Export Market Challenge, an immersive learning experience that allows college undergraduates to simulate the work of FAS subject matter experts.

“I always cherish these opportunities to speak to students about their potential careers in international trade and trade policy,” said Whitley. “At FAS we are always on the lookout for the great talent and we hire both entry-level and experienced professionals with diverse skills and talents to help link U.S. agriculture to the world.”

Whitley stops at COD as part of a visit to the Coachella Valley focused on supporting the specialty crops sector and its impacts in the region. His visit includes a tour of a Coachella date farm, promoting the competitiveness of farming in the area.

Whitley was named FAS Administrator in July 2021, where he previously served as Acting Administrator. Whitley has forged a 20-year career with the agency, developing novel insights on FAS stakeholders and the agricultural trade community. His previous leadership roles include Associate Administrator, where he led FAS trade policy and market analysis teams, as well as Deputy Administrator of the Office of Global Analysis and Director of the Office of Civil Rights.

Whitley has represented the U.S. government in international forums such as the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the International Grains Council.

The FAS advances global opportunities for U.S. agriculture, enhancing export opportunities and food security worldwide. It’s the vital link between U.S. agriculture and the world. The FAS has a network of nearly 100 offices in approximately 180 countries, staffed by agricultural attachés and locally hired agricultural experts. These experts provide actionable solutions to pressing agricultural problems, supporting U.S. foreign policy internationally in the process.