UA Trade Center Director Appointed To Governor’s Commission On Agriculture And Agribusiness

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nisa Miranda, director of The University of Alabama’s Center for Economic Development (UCED) and Alabama International Trade Center (AITC), was recently appointed to Gov. Don Siegelman’s Commission on the Future of Family Farming and Agriculture and Agribusiness.

The commission was created by Siegelman to enhance the economic viability of the agricultural community in Alabama. They will take on projects such as developing an effective marketing strategy to promote Alabama-grown products in state and position Alabama on the international market.

Miranda has held her position with UCED since 1994. The center operates statewide as a federal-state partnership between the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and UA. UCED employs the wide range of UA expertise and organizational units on campus to carry out projects to aid Alabama’s economy. The center specializes in providing technical assistance to communities and manufacturers in the state, especially in rural areas, to plan and carry out economic development initiatives.

Miranda also serves as director of the AITC, a position she has held at UA since 1984. Over two decades, Miranda has built the ATIC’s innovative programs and services to be recognized nationally by the Small Business Administration as a state model of excellence. In addition, she developed and implemented a four-year demonstration project for the Tennessee Valley Authority for hardwood lumber and furniture from 1987-1990. The project was a successful model as a regional project for targeting industries and crafting appropriate strategies to create new export sales from companies not previously exporting.

Miranda, a native of Brazil, graduated from UA with an M.B.A. and a B.S. in biology and French. She was the Alabama World Trade Person of the Year in 1991 and served as a U.S. delegate to the European Community Visitor’s Programme in 1992. Miranda also attended the Young Leader’s Conference of the Swiss American Association in 1990. Miranda is active in local trade and economic development initiatives. She was a founding member of the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators and serves on its board of governors.