Roberto Franco is the AgrAbility Virginia Program Coordinator and a current Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Agriculture, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech. Roberto has seven years of involvement with the AgrAbility program and became the program coordinator last January. He believes in the power of creating partnerships and collaborations to meet the needs of farmers and their communities. Roberto worked as an Animal Science Extension Associate at North Carolina Cooperative Extension, serving small and underrepresented farmers. His background includes working in pasture-based livestock production systems in Panama, North Carolina, and Virginia.  His experiences guide Roberto’s professional and research interests to foster connections between farmers, agricultural organizations, and other stakeholders.  

Areas of Emphasis
AgrAbility Program
Farm Safety, Health, and Wellness
Network-Based Community Development and Outreach
Multifunctional and Sustainable Agriculture

Education
M.S. in Animal Health from NC A&T State University
B.S. in Zootechnical Engineering (Animal Husbandry) from the National University of Panama