Professor Josephine Cruz  

Associate Professor - College of Economics and Management. Central Bicol State University of Agriculture.

 Professor Cruz works in an agriculture-based, state-owned university which offers many opportunities to teach, undertake research and work in a community.  

Professor Cruz mentors both graduate and undergraduate students and teaches agriculture and agriculture-related subjects including Animal Science, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Agriecotourism and Feasibility Study Preparation. She also delivers Genetics to animal science major students.  

After completing a Diploma in Development Management and a doctoral degree in Human Resource Development, Professor Cruz was asked to teach in the university’s Graduate School delivering courses like Resource Management in Agricultural Extension, Strategies in Rural Development and Policy subjects. 

 A highly awarded researcher, Professor Cruz has led many noteworthy research projects including a pioneering USAID-STRIDE_RTI funded project examining stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) production.  

Her work as an agriculture researcher has focussed upon  small ruminants, native animals (pigs and chicken), environment, research management, policy and governance and received funding from various national agencies including the  Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR);  Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Commission on Higher Education, the Asian Institute of Management, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Interior and Local Government and the National Irrigation Administration).  

As an extension worker, Professor Cruz has engaged with farmers and processors in the community both as an extensionist and as a resource speaker and finds that the deep interaction and engagement with women and children in the community an immensely rewarding element of her work.  

As  the Vice-President for Research, Extension, Production and Entrepreneurial Development from 2014 to 2019, Professor Cruz crafted policies on research and extension management, reprioritization of research thrusts and introduced technology management and commercialization to the university. She spearheaded the establishment of several niche centers including the Plant Genetics Research Laboratory and Training Center and the University’s Technology Commercialization Center.  

Professor Cruz ardently forged networks, linkages and partnerships with both local and international funding agencies, universities, non-government organizations and many more to provide central Bicol State University with increased resources. Her experience and proven success as an executive alongside her commitment to positive research outcomes for communities makes her an incredible asset as a mentor to the Meryl Williams Fellowship.