Mr. Chris Mullins is a familiar and trusted face around Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). Many know him from his work as a Horticulture Extension Specialist at Virginia State University (VSU)’s Randolph Farm, while others know him from his extensive partnership engagement across the VCE system. With 26 years of experience in several roles in VSU’s College of Agriculture and VSU-CE, including most recently as Director of Randolph Farm, Mullins recently stepped into another new role. On December 5, 2025, he became Interim Associate Dean for Extension and VSU’s Extension Administrator, following the departure of Dr. Janine P. Woods, who accepted the role of Executive Director of County Cooperative Extension for the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Mullins began his career at VSU in 1999, where he gained experience teaching academic classes, conducting research and delivering Extension programming; work that become central to his career. As a specialist in indoor agricultural systems and vegetable gardening, he frequently gave workshops on hydroponics and aquaponics systems to growers and hobbyists. His expertise and approachable style led many participants to return for more workshops and to seek his advice on their operations. Over time, Mullins assumed new responsibilities in leadership roles, including serving as VSU’s Extension Program Leader for Food, Ag Systems & Agroforestry. In 2023, he stepped into another key leadership role as Director of Randolph Farm, continuing his long-standing commitment to applied research, education and outreach.

On Monday, January 19, over 530 volunteers came together at Virginia State University (VSU)’s Multipurpose Center for the AgriMeals for Change meal packaging event. Virginia Cooperative Extension at VSU partnered with The Outreach Program. This non-profit connects individuals and organizations with volunteer opportunities to address access to food, clean water, education and medical care in their communities, to host the event. Together, they set a goal of packaging 50,000 nutritious boxed meal kits to bolster local food banks, including VSU’s campus food bank.

VSU’s Community Resource Development Extension Associate, Ms. Novita Epps, and School and Community Garden Extension Associate, Mr. Kristoff Minus, organized the community-focused volunteer event, with Mr. Chad Topper of The Outreach Program. Topper was an outstanding collaborator for the event, and drove all the way from Wichita, Kansas with the supplies and food to make the occasion possible. “In Virginia, where one in eight people face food insecurity, every box of packaged meals helps fight hunger, reduce food waste and restore dignity to families in need,” says Epps. “Volunteers who package food for donations are packing more than meals; we are packaging and delivering hope.” Epps and Minus initially sought 200 volunteers to work one of two shifts setting up for the event, at one of 20 stations to pack ingredients and meal components, to serve as a team captain or help clean up at the event’s conclusion. Over double that number of volunteers braved the cold to show up ready to serve, representing community members, students and faculty decked in Trojan orange and blue, plus local partners and organizations