Release No. 0262.97

                                        Johna Pierce(202)720-4623
                                            johna.pierce@usda.gov
                                       Jim Borland (202) 690-0469
                                             jim.borland@usda.gov

GLICKMAN WELCOMES FOUR NEW UNDER SECRETARIES TO USDA MANAGEMENT TEAM

     WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
introduced the four new members of his management team at a swearing-in
ceremony at USDA Headquarters.  The new under secretaries are:

     Miley Gonzalez, under secretary for research, education, and
economics; Gus Schumacher, Jr., under secretary for farm and foreign
agricultural services; Shirley Robinson Watkins, under secretary for food,
nutrition, and consumer services; and Dr. Catherine Woteki, under secretary
for food safety.

     "I am pleased to welcome these outstanding individuals to the USDA
management team," Glickman said.  "Their varied and extensive skills and
expertise will provide strong leadership in achieving this Administration's
goals in the areas of research, production agriculture and trade, nutrition,
and food safety."

     As under secretary for research, education, and economics, Dr.
Gonzalez will provide centralized organization and management of the
research, education, and economic programs administered by USDA.  Prior to
confirmation, he served as associate dean and director for academic programs
in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics at New Mexico State
University.  A native of Ysleta, Tex., Gonzalez received a B.S. and an M.S.
in Agricultural Education from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. from
Pennsylvania State University in Agricultural and Extension Education.

     As under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, August
"Gus" Schumacher will provide leadership for the Farm Service Agency, the
Risk Management Agency and the Foreign Agricultural Service.  Prior to
confirmation, Schumacher served as Administrator of USDA's Foreign
Agricultural Service, administering programs to increase exports of American
agricultural, fish, and forest products.  Before joining USDA, Schumacher
worked for the World Bank's agricultural lending group on agriculture sector
policy adjustment, forestry, and biodiversity protection operations.
Schumacher also served as Massachusetts Commissioner of Food and Agriculture
from 1985 to 1990.  From a farm family in Lexington, Mass., he graduated
from Harvard College, attended the London School of Economics, and was a
research associate in agribusiness at the Harvard Business School.

     As under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services, Shirley
Watkins will oversee USDA's 15 nutrition assistance programs as welfare
reforms are implemented. FNCS programs include the Food Stamp Program, the
National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, and the WIC Program.  Watkins
served previously as USDA's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs, and as FNCS Deputy Under Secretary.  Watkins brings
unique experience to the position -- she was the Director of Nutrition
Services for the Memphis, TN, City Schools for 17 years, managing the school
meals programs at the local level.  A native of Hope, AR, Watkins received
her bachelor of science degree in home economics from the University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and a master of education in supervision from the
University of Memphis.  She is working toward her doctorate in instructional
design.

     As the first under secretary for food safety, Dr. Catherine Woteki
will oversee implementation of the new science-based meat and poultry
inspection system and reorganization of the Food Safety and Inspection
Service.  She most recently served as acting under secretary for research,
education, and economics.  A graduate of Mary Washington College and
Virginia Tech, she has prior policy making experience with USDA's Human
Nutrition Information Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.  Woteki was director of the Food and Nutrition Board of the
National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, and served in the
Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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