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Our 150th anniversary year of celebrations began yesterday with our Founding Day Proclamation Ceremony in the Jesse Hall Rotunda! I am proud of what our college and its people have achieved together over its 150-year history – and where we’re going as we look to an exciting future in our Drive to Distinction! I appreciated Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe; MU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Latha Ramchand; and Vice Chancellor and Dean Emeritus Tom Payne for sharing their thoughts on CAFNR’s contributions to the university, the state, the nation and the world. Thank you to all who joined us – what a turnout! It was fun to have Mizzou football coach Eliah Drinkwitz and Marching Mizzou director Amy Knopps participate on stage at CAFNR Unlimited this past weekend with a special kazoo version of the Mizzou fight song! The fundraiser, sponsored by the CAFNR Alumni Association, celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was a wonderful evening to raise money to support our amazing students and to visit with alumni and friends of our college. It was another record year for funds raised for our CAFNR student experience! Thank you to the CAFNR faculty, staff and students who worked to plan these two big CAFNR celebrations. I also enjoyed hearing from Lt. Gov. Kehoe Jan. 30 at the Center for Agroforestry’s 11th Annual Agroforestry Symposium, which focused on “Value-Added Processing for Missouri Agriculture and Forestry.” I also spoke to Missouri high school teachers that day about incorporating food science concepts into their curricula. I enjoyed being there as both our CAFNR vice chancellor and dean, and as a professor of food science and engineering! I was proud to be part of Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s visit to Mizzou’s East Campus Plant Growth Facility last month. The CAFNR, Arts and Science, and Bond Life Sciences Center faculty and graduate students who shared their work with Gov. Parson were outstanding! I’ve met with many of our Research Center advisory boards this month. It is always useful to visit with our stakeholders around the state, especially those committed to our research centers. Thank you to all of the CAFNR staff members who attended the recent Town Hall – and thank you to CAFNR Staff Advisory Council for planning it! I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about issues of concern to our staff. I was honored to attend the Geyer Award Reception recognizing Sen. Caleb Rowden and the Honorable Ann Covington Feb. 18 at the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City. This award is given by the Mizzou Legislative Network of the Mizzou Alumni Association and recognizes the work of public officials and citizens who have made a positive impact on higher education and Mizzou. That evening I also took part in the Missouri Farm Bureau Legislative Banquet. I attended two excellent presentations last week. Tom Spencer, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences, spoke as part of a panel at the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City’s Business Innovation Forum on Feb. 20. That same evening, I attended Mizzou’s Distinguished Leaders in Higher Education Lecture featuring Chancellor Rebecca Blank of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I will be meeting with visiting UK scientists, here to learn about agricultural technology, this week. I will also present about the Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Initiative to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and speak at a National FFA Week event at the Missouri State Capitol. This month was filled with many opportunities to interact with different groups around our city and state – and from around the world! It really speaks loudly to the impact our college has had, and continues to have! CAFNR Proud! Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean |
