by LOURDES MEDEROS, UF/IFAS
In the first 30 days as director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Miami-Dade County, Pamela Aracena Santos has begun shaping programs to better reflect the voices and needs of the county’s diverse communities.
From listening sessions with growers and neighborhood leaders to early planning around community resilience and youth development, Aracena Santos is setting the stage for an Extension rooted in collaboration and science-based solutions.
“Growing up in Miami’s inner city gave me a firsthand understanding of both the challenges and the strengths within our communities,” said Aracena Santos. “It shaped my vision for Extension programs that are culturally responsive and directly connected to the real needs of our neighborhoods. I want Extension to be a bridge—connecting science and resources to the people who need them most, in ways that are accessible, empowering and transformative.”
Aracena Santos officially took the helm of UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County on Aug. 18. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Miami’s inner city, Aracena Santos earned her doctoral degree in soil science and plant nutrition from Selcuk University in Turkey. There, she built a strong foundation in agricultural research before returning home to apply her skills to South Florida’s unique soil and climate challenges.
A former postdoctoral research associate at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center, she brings local insight and global expertise to the role. Her postdoctoral research centered on evaluating phosphorus reduction in farm basins within the Everglades Agricultural Area. Specifically, she studied differences in phosphorus reduction among farms using similar best management practices (BMPs), examining how soil chemistry and historical land use influence phosphorus concentrations in farm drainage waters. This work is key to protecting water quality in one of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems.
Aracena Santos also sees her research background as a tool for local solutions in Homestead, where agriculture is one of Florida’s most prolific economic engines.
In the first 30 days as director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Miami-Dade County, Pamela Aracena Santos has begun shaping programs to better reflect the voices and needs of the county’s diverse communities.
From listening sessions with growers and neighborhood leaders to early planning around community resilience and youth development, Aracena Santos is setting the stage for an Extension rooted in collaboration and science-based solutions.
“Growing up in Miami’s inner city gave me a firsthand understanding of both the challenges and the strengths within our communities,” said Aracena Santos. “It shaped my vision for Extension programs that are culturally responsive and directly connected to the real needs of our neighborhoods. I want Extension to be a bridge—connecting science and resources to the people who need them most, in ways that are accessible, empowering and transformative.”
Aracena Santos officially took the helm of UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County on Aug. 18. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Miami’s inner city, Aracena Santos earned her doctoral degree in soil science and plant nutrition from Selcuk University in Turkey. There, she built a strong foundation in agricultural research before returning home to apply her skills to South Florida’s unique soil and climate challenges.
A former postdoctoral research associate at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center, she brings local insight and global expertise to the role. Her postdoctoral research centered on evaluating phosphorus reduction in farm basins within the Everglades Agricultural Area. Specifically, she studied differences in phosphorus reduction among farms using similar best management practices (BMPs), examining how soil chemistry and historical land use influence phosphorus concentrations in farm drainage waters. This work is key to protecting water quality in one of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems.
Aracena Santos also sees her research background as a tool for local solutions in Homestead, where agriculture is one of Florida’s most prolific economic engines.
Provided by UF/IFAS