Three Students Serve on the 2026-27 National Board, Marking a First for AAMU

Three Alabama A&M University students are making history on the national stage, becoming the first group from AAMU to serve simultaneously on the MANRRS Executive Committee.

Ruth Fennell, Karyn Marie Rose and Taylor-Nicole Tate, students in AAMU’s College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences, are serving in national leadership positions for the 2026-27 term. Their appointments mark a milestone for AAMU’s Morrison Chapter of MANRRS, which has sent students to the organization’s national conference for the past eight years.

MANRRS, which stands for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, is a national organization dedicated to empowering individuals in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences by nurturing potential, supporting unique journeys, and connecting members to opportunities that inspire leadership and innovation.  Through professional development, networking, mentorship and leadership opportunities, the organization connects undergraduate and graduate students with professionals, academic institutions and career opportunities.

Fennell, a food science doctoral student from Miami, is serving as national past graduate student president after previously serving as Region II graduate vice president and national graduate student president.

She says the progression through national leadership has been about more than holding positions.

“MANRRS has become much more than a professional organization to me,” Fennell said. “It has become a community that has helped shape the person and leader I am today.”

As a first-generation student, Fennell said MANRRS helped reinforce her sense of belonging and the value of her voice. Her national leadership experience also gave her an opportunity to advocate for graduate students and help create that same sense of community for others.

“Serving on the national board taught me that leadership is not about holding a title; it is about listening, showing up for others, and using your position to open doors for the people coming behind you,” Fennell said.

Rose, a food science doctoral student from Dallas, is serving as Region III national graduate vice president. She credits MANRRS with helping her grow professionally while introducing her to opportunities she had not previously considered.

“MANRRS has given me more than opportunities,” Rose said. “It has given me a community that continues to challenge me, encourage me, and help me grow as a leader and professional.”
In her national role, Rose supports and advocates for students across multiple states and universities, an opportunity she views as a way to give back to the organization that has contributed to her own development.

“MANRRS has shown me that when you have the right community behind you, you can turn opportunities into real impact,” Rose said.

Tate, a senior food science major from Orlando, Florida, is serving as Region III national undergraduate vice president. Her experience with MANRRS has included conferences, professional development, networking, mentorship and leadership opportunities.

Tate said serving on the national board has given her a chance to support other students while sharing what the organization has meant to her.

“Serving on the national board as the Region III undergraduate vice president has been especially meaningful because I now have the opportunity to give back to an organization that has invested so much in me,” Tate said.

Dr. Armitra Jackson-Davis, associate professor and co-adviser of AAMU’s Morrison Chapter, said having three students serving nationally reflects both their individual growth and the chapter’s commitment to developing leaders.

“We are incredibly proud to see three Alabama A&M University students serving in leadership roles on the MANRRS National Office Executive Board,” Jackson-Davis said. “This is a first for AAMU and a significant accomplishment for our Morrison Chapter.”

Jackson-Davis said MANRRS gives students opportunities to build relationships, develop as leaders, explore career paths and see themselves as future contributors to agriculture, natural resources, food and related sciences. National representation also allows AAMU students to take their University experience to a broader audience while bringing new connections and opportunities back to campus.

For the three students, that national representation is also an opportunity to make the path wider for those who follow.

“Being able to connect with, support, and advocate for students across the region has shown me that leadership is not just about having a title — it is about creating opportunities for others,” Tate said.