LaKisha J. Odom
Mobile,AL
Summary
Disruptive creative relationship-based innovator with a natural talent for strategic planning and team coordination. Excels at development of public private partnerships and has extensive experience in creating scientific programs. Skilled at driving initiatives that lead to substantial organizational enhancements. Results-oriented professional with a proven ability to effectively lead teams and achieve desired outcomes.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Scientific Program Director
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
09.2016 - Current
- Identify scientific priorities within the FFAR's Agroecosystem Priority area.
- Created FFAR Scientific Portfolios for Soil Health, Sustainable Water Management and AgMission.
- Align strategic priorities with leveraging opportunities in the public/private space to leverage funds totaling over $140M with over 100 distinct funding partners with in the Soil Health Portfolio.
- Organize convening events among thought leaders in numerous topical areas to determine opportunities for collaboration
- Establish collaborations among key strategic partners in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors
- Engage in public/private partnerships that result in funding opportunities
- Assess strategic alignment with partners to determine potential leveraging opportunities
- Develop requests for applications
- Negotiate, execute, and manage a complex portfolio of grants within across Organizational Initiatives
- Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals and provide clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding to Executive Director and Board of Directors
- Lead of FFAR's Scientific Workforce programming, which includes developing strategies, serving as subject matter expert and developing a robust program that supports over 200 fellows.
- Represent the Foundation to key program-related external constituencies, as appropriate, on committees related to area of expertise and responsibilities of the position and in public events
- Experience developing and managing complex partnerships with multiple parties across sectors resulting in confirming on average a1.5:1 per strategic funding area
- Demonstrate experience in innovation in strategic research areas by continually assessing progress and adapting approach dependent on data and feedback
- Led the development of FFAR's DEI initiative (2020-2023)
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship
USDA APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Service
09.2013 - 01.2015
- Provided support to the Office of Science which develops mechanisms to ensure BRS scientists maintain state-of-the-art expertise and credibility
- Participated in analysis of statutory authority to develop policy decisions
- Functioned as member of International Collaboration team; primary duties include: communication and coordination between US and international regulatory agencies to exchange information on reviews, regulatory changes, and scientific issues related to regulation, networking, and collaborating with partners and stakeholders both domestically and abroad to identify mission relevant problems and opportunities
- Developed systematic analysis and Considerations webpage of notification and petition processes geared toward making the process more transparent to first-time or limited users of BRS regulatory system
- Coordinated with ERAP, PCD, and Communications branch in order to prepare Considerations Webpage for new and limited users of BRS regulatory system; webpage published September2014
- Collaborated and supported other APHIS program units such as NEPA by preparing documents for petition to deregulate Dicamba cotton and soybean EIS Appendices, which included the following sections: Off Target Movement, Weed Management and Herbicide Use, Herbicide Trends and Predicted use of Monsanto Soybean and Cotton, Common Weeds in Soybean and Cotton, Herbicide Resistance, and Herbicides used on Monsanto Soybean and Cotton
- Collaborated and supported other APHIS program units such as NEPA by preparing documents for Monsanto87411 Corn Root Worm Environmental Assessment, which included the following section: Physical Environment, Soil Quality, Water Resources, Air Quality and Climate Change, as well as biological resources sections and provided analysis on no action and preferred action alternatives
- Participated in several teams within BRS to complete assigned tasks to meet program goals, which led to receiving a Certificate of Appreciation for “Outstanding and Timely performance while working to prepare the draft environmental impact statement for the petition to deregulate Dicamba cotton and soybean.”
- Represented BRS at meetings at the national and international level, including but not limited to the functioning as a US delegate for the USDA APHIS at the OECD Working Group for the Harmonization of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology (February2014 and April2015) and the Tri-lateral working group between Canada and Mexico (February2015)
- Participated in the development of assessments of plant pest or weed risk by providing technical assessment of risk assessment tools and developing baseline data for Canola (Brassica napus L.)
- Developed and provide substantive peer review of weed risk assessments tool developed within BRS
- Functioned as secondary lead for Weed Risk Assessment project with ERAD
- Provided substantive review of OECD Consensus document on the Biology of Cassava
- Coordinated comments from two additional reviewers and incorporated changes to the OECD Consensus document on the Biology of Cassava on behalf of the USG
- Prepared cover page for head of Delegation communicating changes
- Functioned as the contact person to prepare grant documentation for the Atlantic Salmon OECD Consensus Biology Documents
- Coordinated with outside subject matter experts to prepare draft documents, coordinated with RMP within BRS to complete required documents, served as a liaison between BRS and technical experts
- Served as technical consultant/advisor for ISLI Research Foundation by providing a review of the LLP e-learning module from the perspective of a potential target audience member
- Drafted regulatory guidance based on intensive review of statutory authority in the form of review and response of “Am I Regulated” letters submitted to BRS for the following inquiries: Confirmation of the regulatory status of Panicum viratum switchgrass genetically engineered without genetic material from plant pests and Determination of Isolated DNA fragments Regulation; Provided review of “Am I Regulated” letter: Ceres Biolistically-Derived GE Maize
- Consulted with other experts from the national and international scientific community and on the development risk assessment frameworks, or policy regarding the criteria for and regulation of the release of certain genetically engineered organisms into the environment through working on the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD’s) Working group on Harmonization of Regulatory oversight in Biotechnology
- Assisted in communication and coordination between the US and international regulatory agencies to exchange information on reviews, regulatory changes, and scientific issues related to regulation and foster capacity building
- Provided support in coordinating logistics and program content development for Tri-lateral working group between Canada and Mexico
- Functioned as a US delegate for the USDA APHIS, OECD Working Group for the Harmonization of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology (2014 and2015)
- Prepared reports and technical analyses on different aspects of biotechnology related to the protection of plant health on topics that include but are not limited to GE algae, Global use of New Plant Breeding Techniques, and Weed Risk assessment tools
- Drafted sections of the International Collaborations Team’s strategic plan
- Coordinated development of SharePoint site for International Collaborations Team
- Conceived, analyzed, and formulated policy documents in response to emerging priorities within BRS
- Drafted regulatory guidance based on intensive analysis of statutory authority in the form of review and response of “Am I Regulated” letters submitted to BRS
- Drafted and compile USG responses to International science-based consensus documents
- Delegate reporting to international working group on Harmonization of Regulatory oversight in biotechnology
- Participated in intra-agency and inter-agency working groups to identify mission relevant problems that pertain to Biotechnology
- Supported BRS in providing documentation to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD’s) working group on Harmonization of Regulatory oversight in Biotechnology
- Provided evaluation of internal risk assessment tools; develop baseline data and assess the quality outcomes and impact of risk assessment tools
- Developed webpage and systematic analysis of notification and petition processes geared toward making the process more transparent to first-time or limited users of BRS regulatory system
- Prepared comments on BRS’s petition, notification, and field trial data, which was then subject to internal review and submission into the final OECD official meeting transcript
- Provided technical expertise on BRS Environmental Impact Assessments and Weed Risk Assessments
- Organized logistics and content of tri-lateral working group consisting of the US, Canada, and Mexico
- Served on multiple committees for the improvement of employee/management relationships and assisting in drafting charter language, goals and objectives
- Served on NIFA1890s Capacity Building Grant Review Panel (May2015), the SPECA Grant review panels (June2015), and the HSI Review Panel (April2016)
Postdoctoral Research
Tuskegee University
01.2011 - 08.2013
- RNA analysis and clone library formation and analysis, resistance genes of several varieties of Ipomoea Batatas with varying levels of pathogen resistance to identify resistance
- Participated in multi-departmental working groups to apply for interdisciplinary grants to increase institutional capacity within the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences
- Applied successfully to the AAAS Mentoring Women in International Collaborations Project which resulted in increasing international partnerships with the University
- Functioned as planning team member for the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (2012-2013) duties included: conceiving, planning and executing activities relevant to existing and emerging problems and opportunities for Agricultural workers
- Managed lab supply budget
- Developed and implemented lab protocols and teaching materials
- Identified and managed grant funding opportunities
- Drafted presentations and preparations of reports
- Determined research protocols for graduate and undergraduate students
- Devised research plans pursuant to lab objectives
- Functioned as mentor to graduate and undergraduate minority students
- Participated in outreach events at the Department, College and University level
- Functioned as lead on department wide outreach activities targeted toward incoming students and undergraduate students in the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences
- Organized Departmental Outreach event for over200 freshman students
- Provided mentoring opportunities for Tuskegee REU program
- Served as review panel member for Tuskegee University REU program (2011-2013)
- Functioned as lead for selection process for IBS PhD program process (2011-2012); Duties included: contact person for applicants, completion of application packages, communication to potential applicants, review committee planning and logistics, and presentation of final decision documentation to upper management
- Determined research protocols for graduate and undergraduate students
- Provided analysis of available research to determine research objectives and course of study to devise research plans
- Instructor for freshman level introductory course
- Developed STEM-related projects for summer students and undergraduate students
- Served on cross-departmental working groups geared towards engagement of students in STEM and development of strategies to engage students in qualitative skills
- Optimized equipment utilization by regularly assessing needs, researching new technologies, and coordinating upgrades as necessary.
Contract Management and Implementation
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields, Clean-up and Redevelopment
08.2001 - 03.2004
- Functioned as Work Assignment Manager for the Communications and Technical Support for the Brownfield's Economic Redevelopment Initiative from2002-2004
- Served as Work Assignment Manager for Logistics for Brownfield's2002 and2003 annual conferences in Charlotte, North Carolina and Portland, Oregon, respectively
- Functioned as Work Assignment Manager for EPA Brownfield's Grant Support2002-2004
- Managed work assignments for EPA government contracts, prepared states of Work/Amendments and Independent Government Cost Estimates
- Analyzed and Approved contractor work plans, monthly financial statements and maintained close working relationship with contractors
- Work Assignment Manager for the communications and Technical Support for the Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative from2002-2004
- Work Assignment Manager for Logistics for Brownfields2003 and2003 annual conferences her in Charlotte, North Carolina and Portland, Oregon, respectively
- Work Assignment Manager for EPA Brownfields Grant Support2002-2004
EPA Career Intern Program
Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency
08.1999 - 08.2001
- Participated in Budget Development of Office of Research and Development
- Supported the Office of Science Policy to integrate and communicate scientific information generated by or for Office of Research and Development's laboratories and centers, as well as Office of Research and Development's expert advice on the use of scientific information
- Provide support for Office of Resource Management and Administration
- Participated in Environmental Justice Initiatives
Education
Ph.D. - Integrative Biosciences
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL01.2011
M.A. - Environmental Resource Policy
The George Washington University
Washington, D.C.01.2004
B.S. Magna Cum Laude - Environmental Science Natural Resource Management
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL01.1999
Skills
- Program development
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
- Budget management
- Policy implementation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Resource allocation
- Program evaluation
- Risk assessment
Awards
Selected 2024 ASA Presidential Award recipient and 3rd place in 2024 Women in Ag Award.
August 2012, Selected as American Phytopathological Society Early Career Intern, May 2011, Selected for Tuskegee University Integrative Biosciences Director’s Distinguished Service Award, April 2009, Nominated for membership in the Tuskegee University Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society of Agriculture, 2002, Awarded Presidential Bronze Medal, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for Implementation of Brownfield Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act
Auxillary Leadership Roles
- Board Member - Soil Health Institute 2023-present
- Board Member- Tribal Agriculture Fellowship
- Chair- Stewardship Council OpenTEAM
- Chair- Genome Canada, Project Oversight Committee
Timeline
Senior Scientific Program Director
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
09.2016 - Current
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship
USDA APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Service
09.2013 - 01.2015
Postdoctoral Research
Tuskegee University
01.2011 - 08.2013
Contract Management and Implementation
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields, Clean-up and Redevelopment
08.2001 - 03.2004
EPA Career Intern Program
Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency
08.1999 - 08.2001
M.A. - Environmental Resource Policy
The George Washington University
B.S. Magna Cum Laude - Environmental Science Natural Resource Management
Tuskegee University
Ph.D. - Integrative Biosciences
Tuskegee University
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