Ferguson College of Agriculture

 

Oluwatosin Benjamin Fakunle is making a difference through the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) organization both at the university level and nationally. Fakunle, an Oklahoma State University agricultural education doctoral student, was recently elected as the Region IV Graduate Vice President at the MANRRS national conference this past April.

 

While his leadership role is new, Fakunle has been involved in MANRRS for several years. His MANRRS journey began in 2022 when he was attending Purdue University, where he earned his master’s degree. However, his involvement in the organization has gone beyond just membership. Fakunle has attended national and regional MANRRS conferences, where he has presented research, participated and won competitions, and even served as a judge for the undergraduate research competition for social science students. Throughout his service and club involvement, Fakunle said he always knew he wanted to serve on the national level someday.

 

“Since joining MANRRS, I’ve aspired to be a national officer and wear the gold jacket – a symbol of leadership, service, and the impact I hope to make,” Fakunle said.

 

At the university level, Fakunle said he has been able to mentor and give advice to the executive board. Fakunle said he helps the OSU MANRRS chapter with recruiting students to join.

 

Fakunle is serving as the first OSU national MANRRS officer. During the election process, Fakunle ran against multiple other students from across the nation. The rigorous application process included multiple different steps, and he was ultimately elected for the role after winning the popular vote, where graduate students from universities around the United States voted on the position.

 

In addition to his new leadership role, Fakunle has received multiple national scholarship and fellowship opportunities thanks to MANRRS. Fakunle said his MANRRS journey has been very impactful throughout his collegiate career.

 

“MANRRS has been a defining part of my academic and professional journey. Having benefited from strong mentorship and a supportive community, I understand the transformative power of belonging to an organization that sees potential in you often before the world does,” Fakunle said.

 

Fakunle said both OSU MANRRS advisors, Justin Moss, OSU Horticulture and Landscape Architecture department head, and Arakssi Arshakian, OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture student engagement and international experiences director, played a role in his success. His academic advisor, Christopher Eck, OSU agricultural education assistant professor, as well as Moss and Arshakian all encouraged him to run for the position, he said.

 

“From the start, Benjamin Fakunle brought energy and purpose to everything he did with MANRRS. His appointment as the MANRRS Region IV Graduate Vice President is a proud moment for all of us – especially for our Oklahoma State University MANRRS chapter,” Arshakian said. “Benjamin leads with humility and passion, and his dedication to uplifting others is truly inspiring. Watching him grow into this national leadership role has been a joy, and I know he’ll represent our region with excellence.”

 

Not only has Fakunle excelled in MANRRS, but he was also selected among a pool of applicants as a Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) fellow. This fellowship consists of 30 students from across the United States and Canada who are chosen to be a part of a three-year cohort. Fakunle is serving on the eighth cohort, joining 170 other fellows since 2018 when the first cohort started.

 

The FFAR fellowship includes scientific and professional development training. Fakunle said he specifically applied for the professional development category. Participants are chosen based on their research interests. Fakunle said his research specifically focuses on the agricultural microbiome project, which aligns with all three research strategies of the FFAR for 2024 - 2028.

 

“I bring a unique perspective to the FFAR fellow program, shaped by my personal experience, research projects and passion for food security,” Fakunle said.

 

To learn more about the MANRRS club at OSU, please visit the website.