USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the nomination of Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young currently the administrator of the USDA Agricultural Research Service to be the Acting Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics and Acting USDA Chief Scientist.  Dr. Jacobs-Young, a native of Augusta, Georgia received a baccalaureate degree in Paper Science and Technology from North Carolina State University followed by a Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the same field from NCSU.  She is a graduate of the American University Key Executive Program on Public Policy.

During her Federal career she has led the Office of National Programs and the Office of International Research.  She is the founding director of the Office of the Chief Scientist at USDA.