Dynamic duo is ready to impact the agricultural industry

“I don’t want to do anything great without my sister,” Daijah Robinson said of her twin, Asiah Robinson. Both young women attended the John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture at Central State University for their academic journeys. They walked across the stage at McPherson Stadium to collect their respective diplomas at the Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13.

As high school students, Asiah and Daijah attended Metro Early College High School while living with their parents, Hollie and Ronald Robinson. Their interest in agriculture was piqued by their grandmother, who had a garden at her home in Columbus, Ohio.  

While the twins will both receive Bachelor of Science degrees, Daijah’s focus of study was agricultural education, which has prepared her to teach others about food production, food insecurity, health, nutrition, climate change, the environment, natural resources, communications, leadership, and employability skills.  

“I can’t wait to start sharing new ideas to increase food production and maintain the environment with underserved communities,” Daijah said. “I would love to create a greenhouse museum and even start a plant therapy program,” she added.  

According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association, plant therapy involves the engagement of a person in gardening and plant-based activities, facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific therapeutic treatment goals.  

Asiah concentrated on sustainable agriculture, which is an interdisciplinary major and overlaps with agribusiness, biology, chemistry, geography, physics, manufacturing engineering, and water resources management. 

Asiah said, “Agriculture is not just about farming. We are prepared to enter the workforce, graduate school, or a professional school, in a broad range of fields like nutrition, food chemistry, food production, agriculture technology, management and business.” 

Daijah agreed with Asiah when she said, “CSU professors are the best! They are willing to do anything to understand their students and help them experience success.” 

“I started my faculty position at Central State at the same time that Daijah and Asiah began their academic journey as students,” said Katrina A. Swinehart Held, assistant professor, College of Education, School of Agriculture Education and Food Science “They were in one of the first classes I taught here. To that end, it has been great to see them blossom as both students and as young people. They have been very involved in our activities for students studying agriculture; both have served as leaders for the CSU Leaders in the Food and Environment Club. Daijah and Asiah are hard-working, goal-oriented students who have many bright opportunities ahead of them. I cannot wait to see what their future looks like as they get involved in different parts of the agriculture industry.” 

Asiah and Daijah participated in many extracurricular activities while living on the campus of Central State University. They were members of the Sigma Gamma Rho National Alliance on Mental Health, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Praise Dance Team, Inner Faith Community, and Pirate Ambassadors.  

Asiah commented, “We knew that Central State University was for us, as soon as we learned about it.”  

“We wanted to be around Black excellence,” Daijah added.