Duane Bonifer  |  Published November 05, 2018

Food and Agriculture

Dean of University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences to talk about food and agriculture Nov. 12 in Wiswell-Robeson Lecture.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Food and agriculture will be discussed at the third annual Wiswell-Robeson Lecture at Monmouth College.

WISELL-ROBESON LECTURER: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environment... WISELL-ROBESON LECTURER: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Dean Kim Kidwell will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in the College’s Dahl Chapel and Auditorium.Kim Kidwell, dean of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, will speak about “Food and Agriculture” at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in the College’s Dahl Chapel and Auditorium. Her talk is free and open to the public.

“My intent is to take you on a journey of discovery, learning and transformation,” Kidwell said. “We will look back and look forward, focusing on science-based innovation, the role of land-grant higher education and the extraordinary opportunities to shape the world in agriculture, food and community, from seed to soul.”

The first woman appointed to lead Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Kidwell is a nationally respected scholar and award-winning teacher.

In her role as dean, Kidwell has focused on improving student learning; driving sound, innovative research; and cultivating industry partnerships to improve the lives and livelihoods of the residents of Illinois, in support of the university’s land-grant mission.

Kidwell is also an accomplished spring wheat breeder and geneticist. She has developed more than 20 wheat varieties for farmers. Her research has led to multiple patented discoveries and addressed basic questions involving gene discovery, genetic characterization and genetic mapping of important traits for wheat improvement.

Kidwell earned bachelor’s degrees in both genetics and development and agriculture science from Illinois, and she earned a master’s degree and doctorate in plant breeding and plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin.

The Wiswell-Robeson Lecture was founded in 2016, thanks to a gift from 1960 Monmouth graduate Jeanne Gittings Robeson of Monmouth. The lecture’s purpose is to annually feature a speaker from the agriculture community who explores issues, challenges and innovations in the industry.

Robeson and her late husband, Don Robeson, who was a 1954 Monmouth graduate, operated their farm in Warren County.

The Wiswell-Robeson Lecture complements several food-related initiatives at the College. For almost a decade, College faculty and students have maintained a garden and farm near the campus. Monmouth’s innovative Global Food Security Triad allows students to explore issues in agriculture and food security by studying anthropology, biology and economics.

Monmouth was also the only liberal arts college among the charter signatories of Presidents United to Solve Hunger, a United Nations-sponsored initiative to bring the energy of colleges and universities from around the world to address hunger.

View year’s Wiswell-Robeson Lecture by Kim Kidwell live on YouTube.

Back to News & Events

Did you know?

  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We’re no stranger to winning. Last year the Fighting Scots won Midwest Conference championships in Football, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball and Men’s Track and Field. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthscots.com/" target="_blank">Fighting Scots</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College is proudly test optional. Applicants may choose whether or to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission and scholarship consideration. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/admission/apply/test-optional/" target="_blank">Test Optional</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 98% of Monmouth graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/wackerle-center/career-services/" target="_blank">Career Preparation</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an educational garden and 6.7 acre farm. Students grow and harvest fruits and vegetables to sell at the local farmer’s market. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/academics/only-at-monmouth/educational-garden-farm/" target="_blank">Garden & Farm</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers unique academic minors in Global Public Health and Global Food Security for students who want to use their education to address global challenges. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-public-health/" target="_blank">Global Public Health</a></li><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-food-security/" target="_blank">Global Food Security</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an active Pipe & Drum Band. Each year on Scholar’s Day in April the bagpipers wake students up at 6:00 a.m. by playing in the residence halls!</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/music/pipe-band/" target="_blank">Pipe Band</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College covers the cost for all current students to get a U.S. passport. Unlock access to over 198 different countries! We’ll even help with the paperwork :)</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/study-abroad/" target="_blank">Study Abroad</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 99% of Monmouth students received some type of scholarship or financial assistance.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/offices/student-financial-planning/types-of-aid/scholarships/" target="_blank">Scholarships</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p><strong>Monmouth College is the birthplace of the women’s fraternity movement. Pi Beta Phi, the first such collegiate women’s organization, was founded at Monmouth in 1867. It was followed three years later by Kappa Kappa Gamma. The two pioneering organizations today boast a total of 275 active chapters nationwide.</strong></p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/student-life/sororities-fraternities/" target="_blank">Sororities & Fraternities</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We offer a certified Peace Corps Preparation program that gives Peace Corps bound graduates a leg up in the application process.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/peace-corps-prep/" target="_blank">Peace Corps Prep</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers several international trips each year during 2-week Scots Terms in January and May. Recently students have traveled to Botswana, Greece, Scotland, Japan, and more. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/offices/global-engagement/" target="_blank">Scots Term</a></li></ul></div></aside>