On November 26, 2018 ECaFSS received Dr. Timothy Porch, Research Geneticist from the USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The Role Model Seminar entitled From Dreams to Beans focused on Dr. Porch’s path from living in Central America with his parents, obtaining his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and his current projects reintroducing different bean variations in countries around the world. A total of 43 people including students, faculty and staff from UPRM participated in this inspiring conference. Dr. Porch participates in different projects in the community and academic area, including collaborations with faculty and graduate students from the UPRM College of Agricultural Sciences.