Mortimer "Mort" H. Neufville, PhD
Hall of Fame Class of 2008
Jamaica native Mortimer “Mort” H. Neufville, PhD has dedicated his professional life to reaching out and engaging learners on a global basis. He serves as executive vice president of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). In this position he developed a Food System Leadership Institute to train future university, government and industry leaders in change. Funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Institute has trained three cohorts of leaders. His bachelor’s degree was awarded summa cum laude from Tuskegee University. In 2001 he was awarded a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Florida and in that same year, he received an Honorary Doctor of Science from Tuskegee University.
Neufville also developed a second Kellogg grant of $1.6 million to perpetually fund a national annual engagement and outreach scholarship awards program. Five regional awards of $6000 each promote university/community partnerships demonstrating commitment to engagement priorities. The National winner receives $20,000. His work to obtain the W. K. Kellogg perpetual grant to recognize the role of state universities and land grant colleges in engagement is a significant breakthrough that results in economic and social development for those involved.
Internationally, he serves on boards of directors and working groups focused on capacity building in Africa, India, Latin America and the Caribbean. With backing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in cooperation with U.S. universities and international organizations, he has stimulated lifelong learning partnerships resulting in programs such as the Indian Agricultural Knowledge Initiative (AKI), the NASULGC Africa Working Group, and the GOFAU capacity building effort.
As executive vice president of NASULGC, Neufville is a nationally and internationally recognized advocate for engagement, cooperative extension, distance education and adult and continuing education. He has most effectively used his base in Washington, D.C., to promote these programs to Congress, government organizations and agencies, as well as international organizations and agencies. He has raised significant funds for the extension land grant university mission and promoted greater support for extension and research programs involving universities in the United States and in developing countries. He has also promoted the importance of engagement and extension among the nation's HBCUs, and for many years, has created opportunities for faculty at HBCUs to participate in international education and training programs throughout the world.
In addition to his strong leadership in extension and education, Neufville has a distinguished career as a scientist and director of national and international research programs. He began publishing in the field of animal nutrition while working toward his doctorate from the University of Florida.
He has served on boards, task forces and teams for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR); the Higher Education for Development (HED) advisory committee; the Joint Committee on Agricultural Research Development (JCARD); the International Science and Education Council (ISEC) and the National Academy of Sciences.
Internationally, his research and evaluation expertise helped begin or improve integrated agricultural programs in Cameroon, Egypt, Zambia, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leon, Ethiopia, Jamaica and Barbados. He has spoken to, and consulted with, OECD, FAO, CGIAR and other research, education and development oriented organizations.