ECIAF / BAFT Alumni Recognition

Professor Rolston St. Hilaire

ECIAF/BAFT recognizes Professor Rolston St. Hilaire, a Dominican national, who graduated from ECIAF in 1985, with the Diploma in Agriculture. In 1998, he graduated from Iowa State University with a Ph.D. in Horticulture. Currently, he is the Department Head, Plant and Environmental Science, at New Mexico State University. His research interests are: - landscape, ornamental horticulture, environmental stress physiology and molecular ecophysiology.

Prizes won at ECIAF:

•1985 Proficiency Award in Farm Practices and the Caroni Prize, ECIAF.

•1984 Agricultural Development Bank Prize, Federation Chemicals Prize, Director’s Prize, Barbados General Agricultural Society Prize and Student of the Year Award (ECIAF).

The words of Professor Rolston St. Hilaire, 23^rd February, 2018:

“After the novelty of my first plane ride dissipated and I arrived at E.C.I.A.F., never did I imagine that my E.C.I.A.F training would continue to benefit my career three decades later.  I serve as the Head of Plant and Environmental Sciences, an academic department at New Mexico State University.  And just last year, I took on the role of Head of the Extension Plant Sciences department on an interim basis.  One of the main drivers of my decision to accept this new role was the fact that Extension was part of my training at E.C.I.A.F.  The course work was supported by off-campus experiential learning experiences with farmers and Extension agents.

While at that time I may not have been thrilled with leaving the comfort and serenity of the Centeno campus for off-campus, the Extension training that I received from E.C.I.A.F. is a real asset in my academic portfolio.  Furthermore, the farmers that I interacted with during the Extension training taught me the value of agricultural research that makes a difference in their lives.

In addition to Extension training, E.C.I.A.F.’s broad curriculum has allowed me to understand all the components of a modern agricultural university.  The value of this broad curriculum may be not readily apparent to the current student.  But, it has been to me as an administrator.  So, I encourage students to embrace this curricula approach to better position themselves to thrive in the agriculture enterprise”

• Professor Rolston St. Hilaire