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Welcome to the fall 2021 semester! I am always excited to begin a new academic year. It’s rejuvenating to see new faces and positive energy on campus! And not just new students – we also welcome new faculty members (to be introduced this week on CAFNR’s social media!) and new colleagues in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and Personal Financial Planning (to be showcased later this month!) It’s also Field Day and State Fair season in Missouri! We kicked off with Greenley Research Center’s event Aug. 4. Up next is Graves-Chapple’s field day Tuesday, Aug. 24. A few centers have made the decision to cancel or postpone their in-person events this year, including Forage Systems Research Center and Fisher Delta Research Center. I enjoyed participating once again in numerous events in Sedalia at our State Fair, including Farm Family Day, the Attorney General Ag Legal Roundtable, Governor’s Dinner and Missouri Wine Reception, Governor’s Ham Breakfast, and Sen. Blunt’s Ag Advisory Council Meeting. I introduced our new Executive Director for Advancement, Shawn Poore, to CAFNR alumni at a gathering at the Fair. We are thrilled to welcome Shawn to CAFNR. He has nearly 20 years of experience in higher education fundraising, including most recently at the Trulaske College of Business. Earlier in August, I presented on strategic planning at the North Central Region Mini Land-Grant Virtual Conference “Leading Change, Creating the Future,” hosted by Shibu Jose and Marshall Stewart. And I met this month with ag partners Dave Janish, FCS; Blake Rollins, Missouri Farm Bureau; Chris Chinn, Missouri Department of Agriculture; and Jerry and Mary Jane Duff, Agrithority. I also met with Rep. Kent Haden, a CAFNR alumnus and supporter of our college. Diane Olson, Missouri Farm Bureau, was honored at the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City’s awards luncheon Aug. 18 with the Dillingham Award. I also enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate Sen. Blunt and Mary Anne McCollum at Mizzou’s Geyer Awards Reception the day before. It was inspiring to witness the Missouri Bicentennial’s Formal Ceremony on the steps of the Capitol Aug. 10. What an amazing milestone to reflect upon, especially agriculture’s critical role in our state heritage. Friday, Aug. 20, was a fun day in CAFNR with the Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Division BBQ, the new student welcome in Trowbridge, and a campus leadership session to prepare for the fall semester. I remind everyone of our duty to adhere to the mask requirements and other safety regulations put in place by Mizzou to keep all of us safe and healthy. The Provost’s Office shared the following bullets to clarify the policy – let’s all lead by example here in CAFNR! I’m counting on all of you – we are a community that cares for and takes care of one another: - Masks are required among instructors and students while in classrooms, regardless of vaccination status.
- Masks are required when in meeting rooms where social distancing cannot be maintained, regardless of vaccination status.
- For the remaining indoor spaces on campus, if you are not fully vaccinated, you are required to wear a mask.
- Otherwise, masks are recommended, but not required. Thus, vaccinated individuals walking through hallways, standing in common areas of building, or otherwise populating a building are not required to wear masks.
Please consult the Show Me Renewal website should you have questions. I wish everyone a wonderful semester. Together, we will make it another great year! CAFNR Proud, Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean |
