In Profile: Mental toughness, training helps Amelia Sidumo face challenges
Coming from a country where more than 80 percent of the population works in agriculture, Mozambique-native Amelia Sidumo grew up in an environment where traditional agriculture serves as the main source for food and income. The plant and soil science doctoral student knows her country's farmers face huge challenges, including lack of appropriate technology and basic knowledge of many producer processes.
It's a prime reason why after graduation next May, Sidumo plans to return to Mozambique to work as a lecturer and researcher at Eduardo Mondlane University, as well as continue collaboration work with national and international agricultural organizations.
"I want to contribute not only to agriculture in my home country, but in other countries where I might be needed," Sidumo said.
Sidumo first visited Texas Tech as a member of a Mozambican delegation attending the International Cotton Conference hosted by the Department of Plant and Soil Science's Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute in 2007.
Sidumo said she's grown as an agricultural scientist, teacher and researcher since moving to Lubbock three years ago. "Being an instructor in entomology here at Texas Tech has allowed me to learn many teaching approaches and methodologies implemented in this part of the world," she said. "It's improved my teaching and communication skills."
Before attending Texas Tech, Sidumo received her bachelor's degree in agronomy at Mozambique's Eduardo Mondlane University, and then received a Fullbright Scholarship to earn her master's degree in entomology at Cornell University. "Now, I plan to graduate with Red Raider pride," she said.
Written by Kelsey Fletcher
CONTACT: Richard Zartman, Department Chair and Leidigh Professor of Soil Physics, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2838 or richard.zartman@ttu.edu
0109NM12 / Photo: N Martin
Davis College NewsCenter
-
Address
P.O. Box 42123, Lubbock, Texas 79409-2123, Dean's Office Location:Goddard Building, Room 108 -
Phone
(806)742-2808 -
Email
kris.allen@ttu.edu