Environmental Scientist, Dr. Joan Petersen, Named a USDA De La Garza Fellow
Dr. Joan Petersen, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences & Geology at Queensborough, has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) (E. Kika De La Garza) Fellowship Program. Petersen will be part of a dynamic network of leaders from academia and government that work to advance the excellence of education at HSI serving institutions.
The 2026 program kicked off at a recent conference held at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., attended by scientists and pre-collegiate Fellows from all over the country. “It was a very informative week, and I enjoyed connecting with the USDA officers and other Fellows,” said Petersen. A highlight of the program was a visit to the U.S. National Arboretum, a research facilty and public garden of the USDA where, among other features, are medicinal and Native American gardens.
“As an Education Fellow, I am excited to begin exploring funding opportunities to support the expansion of hydroponics and agricultural research facilties at QCC, learn about internships and careers to share with my environmental science students, develop ideas for expanding career readiness within the environmental science program, and establish networks with different agencies within the USDA.”
Petersen, who joined Queensborough in 2002, teaches anatomy and physiology, microbiology, environmental science, and ecology. She developed the College’s environmental science program, introduced course-based research for soil and water microbiome studies and local field sites, and established the Hydroponiocs facility at Queensborough in the fall of 2025 that is funded by a “CUNY Research in the Classroom” grant. She is an active member and co-advisor for Queensborough’s student chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
Queensborough Community College is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
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