June 6, 2007

Board Member Neufville Presented with AIARD Special Service Award

The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development presented its 2007 Special Service Award to ACDI/VOCA board member Dr. Mortimer Neufville at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on June 4. The award recognizes Neufville’s lifelong commitment to international agriculture and the ideals of the association.

The award presentation highlighted Neufville’s advanced degrees in animal science, his leadership role in several land-grant universities, his current position as executive vice president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and his dedication to ACDI/VOCA and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research/IITA, for which he served as chairman of the board.

A supporter of Neufville’s nomination wrote: “In his role as executive vice president of NASULGC, he continues to touch the lives of AIARD members. His reach is broad in terms of international agriculture, his voice is gentle and compassionate...his dedication and effectiveness have been proven through the years as he continues to support international agricultural development.”

Dr. Neufville has been a stalwart on ACDI/VOCA's board since joining it in 2002. He currently serves as chairman of the projects committee and has been instrumental in engaging the board in ACDI/VOCA's overseas work. He has participated in two board missions, to Cape Verde and Senegal this year and to Kenya in February 2006.