Contact Susan Jackels at:

sjackels@seattleu.edu

In an international partnership, Seattle University with its sister Jesuit institution, University of Central America Managua and the Catholic Relief Services of Nicaragua and its partner, Nicaraguan non- governmental organization for agricultural development, ADDAC, have joined together to accomplish this project.

Seattle University will be the sponsoring agency for managing and directing the effort. Dr. Susan C. Jackels, Professor of Chemistry at Seattle University and Chemistry Department Chair, from 1997 to 2003, is the project’s Principal Investigator and the Project Director. Prof. Jackels is grateful for the award of a NSF Discovery Corps Senior Fellowship for 2005 - 2006.

 
Mr. Carlos Vallejos, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at UCA Managua, will direct the new laboratory. Mr. Vallejos has been the prime contact with UCA since planning for this project began in 2002. He holds a Masters degree in analytical chemical instrumentation from the Institut Quimic de Sarria, Barcelona, Spain.
 
Catholic Relief Services, Nicaragua Office, provides funding and technical assistance to its local partner (ADDAC) for coffee quality, agricultural diversification, and commercialization, including certification issues. Ms. Lara Puglielli, Director of the CRS Nicaragua Office, holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and an MBA from Yale Univ.  CRS/NI will provide essential logistical support for this project.
 
Agricultural Diversification and Community Development Association (ADDAC) provides a cooperative of close to 2,000 small producers in need of the resources of this project. The organization has an experimental farm, La Canavalia, where the products and services are developed and field-tested under controlled circumstances, plus a training center and staff with expertise in agriculture and service with Nicaraguan farmers.
addac
La Canavalia