Dr. Ralph C. Noble, dean of Fort Valley State University’s College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, is the recipient of the 2020 Thomas Monroe Campbell Leadership Award. The award is presented to those whose service and work exemplify the ideals and legacy of Thomas Monroe Campbell.

Dean Noble received the award during the Tuskegee University 128th Annual Farmers Conference on Feb. 20 during the T. M. Campbell Luncheon in Montgomery, Alabama. Noble was one of three honored at the conference.

Noble’s professional experiences include serving as chair of the National Goat Consortium National Conference; coordinating animal, poultry and veterinary sciences research, leading outreach, and academic programs at Tuskegee University, and serving as acting director of the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station at Tuskegee University.

His research interests include improving reproductive management, overcoming infertility, food production and goat production. He has delivered more than 100 presentations about livestock production to small and limited resource farmers, agricultural specialists, rural community organizations and students. His publications and proceedings include his work on enrollment growth models at an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, life choices for young men, livestock production and global food security.

The Thomas Monroe Campbell Leadership Award is given in honor of Thomas Monroe Campbell. Campbell was appointed as the first Cooperative Extension agent in the United States and headed the first Extension program as a field agent for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nationally known and respected as a public servant, Campbell was also the author of the book “The Moveable School Goes to the Negro Farmer.