DATE:  9/22/05

CONTACT:  Dr. Gloria McCutcheon, (843) 402-5393

WRITER: Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241

Clemson professor helps develop international outreach program

ORANGEBURG -- A Clemson University faculty member has been honored for her role in helping develop an international outreach program designed to address health and environmental concerns for African-Americans and other ethnic groups.

Gloria McCutcheon, entomology professor and youth development specialist at Coastal Research and Education Center, received the 2005 Board of Trustees Award for Faculty Excellence from Leon Hendrix Jr., board chairman, and President Jim Barker.

McCutcheon is part of a national team of educators, physicians, nurses and scientists who developed a training manual for a program sponsored by the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority called Z-HOPE – Zetas Helping Other People Excel. She heads the national effort for the Z-HOPE for Youth component. Other units address concerns for women, men, seniors and international women.

McCutcheon, who is president of Gamma Zeta, the Charleston chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, spoke to the Alpha Omicron Zeta chapter in Orangeburg recently to encourage the members to implement Z-HOPE locally.

“Health – whether it’s physical, mental or spiritual – impacts everyone’s ability to work, live, love and just exist,” said McCutcheon. “We want to empower people to become active partners in improving the quality of their lives.”

Z-HOPE activities cover a wide range of topics, including: Homeland Security, diabetes, West Nile Virus, sexually transmitted diseases, career choices, nutrition, reading, writing, math and science programs for youths.

Sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship and careers in agriculture – all issues that concern McCutcheon – are included in the Z-HOPE manual. She also received an award of excellence in 2003 for work with the Kellogg Foundation as a Food and Society Policy Fellow. She was recognized for communicating agricultural issues to legislators, school officials and the general public, while promoting locally-produced food.

Alpha Omicron Zeta members are available to present one-hour programs on Z-HOPE topics for church, community and civic organizations. For more information and to plan a program, contact Victoria Darby, chapter president, at 803-536-5766.

McCutcheon is a Bamberg County native and worked at Edisto Research and Education Center at Blackville from 1973 to 1990. She joined the Clemson faculty in 1979. Though stationed at Charleston, she still conducts research at Edisto REC that focuses on minimal usage of pesticides.

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