The NextGen programs were started in 2023 with grant awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture. Their purpose is to bolster the next generation of professionals in the fields of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences — often referred to as FANH. For UOG, the NextGen grant of $10 million is the second largest grant ever received by the university.

Attending the meeting from UOG were NextGen COMPASS Project Director Dr. Kate Moots, Project Manager Filma Calalo, and Administrative Assistant Engelica Ventura. The team benefitted from the opportunity to network and exchange best practices with other universities toward the shared mission of growing the FANH workforce.

During the poster session, Moots presented the achievements of NextGen COMPASS, which stands for Creating Opportunities for the Marianas: Pathways for Access & Student Success. Since it began in 2023, the program has served nearly 300 undergraduate students.

Her presentation highlighted the specific challenges for Guam and Micronesia of being vulnerable to food shortages and environmental catastrophes brought on by climate change and invasive species. Moreover, students in the region face the challenge of limited access to specific higher education courses, career development experiences, and job opportunities that would make them more competitive for federal jobs in the FANH sciences.

But NextGen COMPASS is making progress in addressing these challenges. Moots shared how the program is partnering with larger Land Grant universities to make additional courses available online to UOG students. It has also been partnering with local agencies to provide students with paid internships, scholarships, and research opportunities, boosting their resumes with valuable, hands-on, real-world experience in a variety of FANH professions, both local and federal.

“The poster presentations were one of the most energizing and memorable highlights,” Calalo said. “They were a celebration of progress, creativity, and the collective commitment to equity in education. It left many of us inspired and eager to bring new ideas back to our campuses.” 

The event sparked meaningful dialogue and peer exchange about each university’s NextGen program models — from student recruitment strategies to support systems for first-generation and resource-limited students in STEM and food and agriculture. Overall, Calalo said she could feel the collective impact the NextGen grants are having across the nation.

The NextGen Project Directors Meeting will be held on an annual basis for the duration of the initiative’s five-year term.