Office of International Research, Education, and Development

In 1977 the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences established the Office of International Agriculture. In 1984 the office was renamed the Office of International Development (OID), and its mandate was broadened to serve other colleges in the university. In 1991 the office was renamed the Office of International Research and Development (OIRD), and its focus changed to embrace more scholarly research and education as well as to expand the service mission of the university on an international level. In 1993 OIRD was administratively transferred to the Office of the Vice Provost for Outreach and International Programs. When that office was split in 1994, OIRD reported to the vice provost for International Programs, but its reporting structure was changed the following year to the Office of the Interim Vice Provost for Outreach and Economic Development, which was renamed in 1999 the Office of the Vice Provost for Outreach and renamed again in 2003 the Office of the Vice Provost for Outreach and International Affairs. The name of OIRD itself was changed in 2003 to the Office of International Research, Education, and Development (OIRED) during a reorganization of Outreach and International Affairs, and OIRED assumed responsibilities for the University Office of International Programs and the Center for European Studies and Architecture in addition to its regular duties. By 2010 the office was sending more than 1,100 students overseas to study. Since 1991 OIRED has become one of the top five programs among land-grant institutions in garnering contracts and grants in international agriculture projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Under the guidance since 1991 of S. K. De Datta, who was named associate vice provost for international affairs in 2003 (title changed to associate vice president in 2008), the office administers approximately $64 million in contracts and grants with funding from USAID Global Bureau, Africa Bureau, and Europe and Eurasia Bureau; USAID missions in Senegal, Mali, Eretria, Jamaica, and Albania; and the Asian Development Bank. By 2010 OIRED was involved in collaborative programs in 44 countries.