The meeting focuses on coordinated advocacy by the Freely Associated States for sustained federal support of the regional Land-Grant program and its federal fundings.
KOROR, PALAU

KOROR, PALAU — In conjunction with the Board of Regents meeting, leaders of the College of Micronesia Land Grant Program (COMLGP) met with His Excellency Hersey Kyota, Ambassador of the Republic of Palau to the United States and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, to discuss coordinated regional advocacy and stronger support for COMLGP.

The meeting brought together the COMLGP Board of Regents; Executive Director Stanley Lorennij; the Central Office administrative team; the presidents of the program’s three partner colleges; and Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) vice presidents. Ambassador Kyota was accompanied by First Secretary Tester Yalap.

Discussions focused on how the three Freely Associated States — the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia — can work collectively to strengthen and advance COMLGP. Participants emphasized the importance of a unified regional approach to sustaining federal investment in research, Extension and capacity-building programs that serve communities across Micronesia.

A central objective is to strengthen engagement among the diplomatic representatives of the three nations and coordinate advocacy before the U.S. Congress. Through a shared message, the partners aim to ensure that Micronesia’s unique geographic, economic and food-security needs are clearly represented in federal funding discussions affecting the Land-Grant program.

In remarks to the Board of Regents and partner college leaders, Ambassador Kyota reaffirmed his commitment to working with his counterparts from the other Freely Associated States. The meeting underscored a common goal: ensuring that Micronesia speaks with a strong, collective voice in Washington in support of COMLGP’s future.

Sitting from left to right in the (front row) Dr. Emais Roberts, Chairman of the Board of Regents for the College of Micronesia Land Grant Program representing the Republic of Palau; Mrs. Lynn Sonden, serving as proxy for the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); His Excellency Mr. Hersey Kyota, Ambassador of the Republic of Palau to the United States and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; and Regent Gerald Zakios of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In the (back row) Mr. Stanley Lorennij, Executive Director of the Central Office for the College of Micronesia Land Grant Program; Mr. Steven Young-Uhk, Vice President of COM-FSM CRE; Mrs. Meitaka Kendall Lekka, Interim President of the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI); Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono, President of the College of Micronesia, FSM (COM-FSM); Dr. Patrick Telley, President of Palau Community College (PCC); Mr. Doman Doas, Chief Financial Officer of the Central Office; Mr. Adedayo Ogunmokun, Vice President of CMI CRE; and Mr. Betson Ifamilik, Communications and Information Technology Officer, (CITO).