The Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors presents the Award of Excellence in Leadership to Dr. Glenda Humiston, University of California.

Dr. Glenda Humiston was appointed University of California vice president for agriculture and natural resources August 3, 2015. Glenda has since served many leadership roles on behalf of the experiment stations at both the regional and national levels. Glenda’s steadfast commitment to serve and no non-sense approach, coupled with her vast experience in the political arena, has helped move the needle. 

Dr. Humiston served as WAAESD chair during a time when the regional office was experiencing some internal issues. Glenda’s leadership was essential to managing through those tough times.

On the national level, Dr. Humiston served as the Chair of the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy’s (ESCOP) Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC). Chairing this committee also entails serving as the ESCOP representative to the APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly’s Budget and Advocacy Committee and Committee on Legislation and Policy. She also served on an ad hoc infrastructure committee that was formed by the APLU BAA to address the rapidly declining facilities by colleges of agriculture. Glenda’s leadership was instrumental in all of these committees. For example, she helped the system develop a longer-term strategy for justifying annual federal appropriations requests in support of research funds that are to State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Glenda also played a pivotal role in creating awareness among congressional leaders that the nation must address the infrastructure challenges colleges of agriculture are facing.

Dr. Humiston earned a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy and Management, a master’s degree in international agricultural development from UC Davis, and a BS degree in animal science from Colorado State University.