Dr. Elsa Murano, professor and president emerita of Texas A&M University, has been named director of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture. She had been interim director since June 2012.
“It is a great honor to be named director of an organization whose mission is to help improve the lives of poor farmers and their families around the world,” Murano said. “I’m humbled and very grateful to be doing my part in furthering the legacy of such a great man and dedicated scientist as Dr. Norman Borlaug.”
The institute, an entity of Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, designs and implements science-based development projects and training programs that fight hunger and poverty, specifically among small-holder agricultural communities of the developing world.
Murano has managed a project portfolio of $55 million during her time with the institute. Current projects span the developing regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
“We are excited to have Dr. Murano continue to lead our international programs at the Borlaug Institute. She brings a wealth of experience and leadership skills to this position that will help our college and agencies fulfill their missions,” said Dr. Bill Dugas, acting vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M. “The agency directors and I could not be happier to have Dr. Murano in this role.”
A professor in the department of nutrition and food science at Texas A&M, Murano also served as the USDA’s undersecretary for food safety from 2001 to 2004. She was vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences from 2005 to 2007 and served as president of Texas A&M from 2008 to 2009.