Chavonda Jacobs-Young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chavonda Jacobs-Young
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| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics | |
| In office June 8, 2022 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Catherine Woteki |
| Succeeded by | TBD |
| Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service | |
| In office February 2014 – June 8, 2022 |
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| President |
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| Succeeded by | Simon Liu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1967 (age 57–58) Augusta, Georgia |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | North Carolina State University American University |
Chavonda J. Jacobs-Young (born 1967) is an American government leader. She served as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics from 2022 to 2025. Before that, she was the head of the Agricultural Research Service. She was the first woman and first person of color to lead that agency. In 1998, Dr. Jacobs-Young became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. (a very high university degree) in paper science.
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Early Life and Education
Chavonda Jacobs-Young grew up in Augusta, Georgia. She finished Hephzibah High School in 1985. During high school and college, she was a talented high jumper. She won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship three times.
College Studies
Dr. Jacobs-Young studied at North Carolina State University. She earned her first degree in paper science and engineering in 1989. She then got her master's degree in wood and paper science in 1992. In 1998, she earned her Ph.D. in paper science from the same university. Later, in 2008, she received a special certificate in public policy from American University.
Career in Government and Science
After finishing her Ph.D., Dr. Jacobs-Young worked as a professor. She taught paper science and engineering at the University of Washington from 1995 to 2002.
Joining Federal Service
In 2002, Dr. Jacobs-Young started working for the United States government. She began as a leader in a program that focused on research, education, and outreach in agriculture. She later became a senior advisor for agriculture in the White House. In this role, she helped the President's science advisor. She worked with different government groups to improve science projects related to farming and food.
Leadership Roles at USDA
In 2010, Dr. Jacobs-Young returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She helped create and lead the USDA Office of the Chief Scientist. This office made sure that all scientific work from the department was accurate and well-researched. She also served as acting director for the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
In 2012, she joined the Agricultural Research Service as an Associate Administrator. This role involved overseeing research programs. She is a member of the Senior Executive Service, which is a group of top leaders in the government. She is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Under Secretary of Agriculture
In July 2021, Dr. Jacobs-Young was nominated for a very important job. This was the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics. On June 8, 2022, she was approved for this role. This made her the first woman of color to hold this high-level position.
Recognizing Women in STEM
In March 2022, Dr. Jacobs-Young was honored in a special exhibit. It was called #IfThenSheCan - The Exhibit. This exhibit featured 120 life-size statues of women who work in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Her statue was displayed near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., celebrating Women's History Month.
