I have been in this area for all of my life – my family originated from the Kannapolis area and was employed at Cannon Mills.  Given that members of my family worked in the textile industry, I witnessed how job opportunities changed in the U.S. and moved away into foreign markets.  As a result of my relationship to and dedicated interest in this area, I navigated my career toward understanding how to assist dislocated workers in the region.  I was a member of the Rapid Response team that supported the community when Pillowtex closed in 2003.  When the R3 Center of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College opened in 2007, I joined the center which is designed to address the need of dislocated workers in the area.  This initiative serves as a connection to economic development in the area and helped us become engaged with the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in which I have been very involved.  Bringing research to this area has numerous advantages.  In addition to participating in NCRC activities, I am also an active member of the MURDOCK Study Community Advisory Board

Nutrition, stem propagation,