On August 2, 2024, the COM Land Grant Executive Director  Stanley Lorennij along with Director and Aquaculture Chief Scientist Dr. Manoj Nair met with Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono, President of COM-FSM, at the National Campus in Palikir, Pohnpei, FSM.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current status of the sea cucumber project, the hatchery facility at Nett Point, and its lease agreement with the Pohnpei Port Authority, which is due for renewal by the end of this month, as well as possibilities of a transition of the aquaculture facility and its two aquaculture technicians to the COM-FSM CRE aquaculture program in anticipation of the arrival of the new aquaculture researcher for the COM-FSM CRE aquaculture program. Dr. Koroivulaono expressed strong support for this direction and looks forward to further planning and initiations between the two institutions.  

Pictured from left to Right: Mr. Stanley Lorennij, Executive Director, Dr. Manoj Nair, Aquaculture Chief Scientist, and Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono, President of the College of Micronesia FSM, on August 2, 2024.

On July 30, 2024, Hyunjeong Lee, who is currently managing the FSM Department of Education (FSM DOE) Skills and Employability Enhancement project, paid a courtesy visit to the College of Micronesia Land Grant program Central Office in Pohnpei and met with Executive Director Stanley Lorennij and the administration team to discuss and explore potential partnership and collaboration avenues to continue developing a robust support system for the SEE project in terms of high school curriculum developments and improvements in agriculture and other CTE fields and industries, master trainers/teachers, funding, etc.  After more than an hour of discussions, the executive director and Hyunjeong Lee wrapped up the meeting in good faith and understanding. In the end, the executive director indicated that the COM LG program supports the SEE project and will provide support wherever possible.

Pictured from left to Right: Mr. Stanley Lorennij, Executive Director, Mr. Betson Ifamilik, Land Grant CITO, Mr. Engly Ioanis, Sr. Extension Agent/Program, Ms. Hyunjeong Lee, FSM DOE representative, and Lerihna Lebehn Johnson, Executive Secretary, COM/BOR on July 30, 2024.

COM Land Grant Executive Director Mr. Stanley Lorennij, on behalf of the COM Board of Regents and the COM Central Office staff, honored retiring long-term employees at a simple retirement function at Red Snapper restaurant in Kolonia, Pohnpei, FSM, on June 7, 2024.

The two retiring COM employees are Mrs. Haraline Ramirez, Secretary to the Executive Director, and Mr. Ricardo Vera Cruz, Business Manager.

Mrs. Harline Ramirez has worked for COM for 44 years. She started in November 1980 as Clerk Typist III and was promoted to Executive Secretary to the Executive Director and the COM Board of Regents. At the end of her contract, Mrs. Harline Ramirez will retire in September 2024.

Mr. Ricardo Vera Cruz has worked for COM for 39 years as the budget Manager. He started in 1986 as the Budget Officer, and later, his position was re-classified as Budget Officer. Mr. Ricardo Vera Cruz continued in the same position until he retired in April 2024. Mr. Doman Daoas, the current CFO, has taken his place.

A simple retirement function was organized at Red Snapper restaurant to facilitate long-term service for the two retiring employees. Traditional handicrafts were used to facilitate the event, and the retirees were given a plaque containing the signed COM Board of Regents Resolution thanking them for their service.

Pictured from left to Right: Mr. Doman Daoas, CFO, COM; Mrs. Margaret Weital, EFNEP Coordinator, COM; Mr. Ricardo Vera Cruz, retired Business Manager and Mr.Stanley Lorennij, Executive Director, COM Land Grant at the retirement facilitation function in Kolonia, Pohnpei FSM, on June 7, 2024.

Pictured from left to Right: Mr. Doman Daoas, CFO, COM; Mrs. Margaret Weital, EFNEP Coordinator, COM; Mrs. Haraline Ramirez, retired Executive Secretary and Mr.Stanley Lorennij, Executive Director, COM Land Grant at the retirement facilitation function in Kolonia, Pohnpei FSM, on June 7, 2024.

A few selected pictures from the retirement function are posted below :

College of Micronesia Executive Director Mr. Stanley Lorennij and staff thank the College of Micronesia Board of Regents for supporting the retirement function.

Dr. Cheng Sheng Lee, Director of Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA, USDA), paid a courtesy visit to the College of Micronesia Central Office in Pohnpei on June 8, 2024. Dr Lee was on an island-hopping mission to get recent updates on the aquaculture situation in the RMI and FSM. Dr. Lee congratulated ED Stanley on his new role as the Executive Director for the COM. Dr. Lee and ED Stanley discussed different topics pertaining to aquaculture in the region. Dr. Lee explained to ED Stanley about the CTSA Programs and funding opportunities. He further invited ED Stanley to take up the vacant COM Land Grant position at the CTSA Board of Directors. ED Stanley thanked him for the offer and let Dr. Lee know that he will discuss this offer with the COM Board of Regents in their next meeting.

Executive Director Stanley, Chief Scientist and Director of COM Aquaculture Program, Dr. Manoj Nair gave an updated overview of COM Aquaculture programs in the Micronesian region while senior extension agent Engly Ioanis highlighted the need and importance of sustainable feed for livestock. Dr. Lee and ED Stanley agreed to work on a comprehensive MOU between COM and CTSA for the efficient utilization of resources between the two USDA organizations to prevent wastage and duplication of efforts.

Pictured from left to Right: Executive Director Lorennij, S, Ioanis, E, Dr. Cheng Sheng Lee and Dr. Nair meeting at the COM Central Office in Kolonia, Pohnpei FSM, on June 8, 2024.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) extramural grant funding agency for agricultural research, education, and Extension programs. A senior seven-member NIFA delegation under the leadership of Dr. Dionne Toombs, NIFA Associate Director for Programs, visited the Republic of Palau State to attend the four-day Conference on USDA NIFA Land Grant Programs for USAPI and FAS Colleges at Palau Community College (PCC) in Koror State, Republic of Palau from April 27 to May 3, 2024. A report of the same was recently posted on The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) website. A screengrab of the published news article and the link for the original article on the APLU website are given below.

Supporting the Pacific Islands’ Land-grant Universities – APLU

The conference was coordinated by a joint team from the College of Micronesia Land Grant Program under Executive Director Mr. Stanley Lorennij and the senior leadership of PCC, including COM Board of Regent Chair Dr. Emais Roberts, PCC President Dr. Patrick Tellei and Dr. Christopher Kitalong, Vice President PCC CRE.

College of Micronesia wishes to thank Kim Scotto, Senior Associate, Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (FANR) Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) for sharing this article.