This month has been full of wild winter weather. I appreciate those in our college who care for animals on our research farms and other facilities in all types of weather and precipitation.

I was grateful for the opportunity to attend an announcement by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Feb. 7 at Lincoln University in Jefferson City. Secretary Vilsack unveiled a new $1 billion “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities” program to fund projects that create market opportunities for U.S. ag and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. I hope CAFNR researchers will take advantage of this new funding opportunity!

On Feb. 10, I attended the forum on ag innovation, hosted by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City. Our own Sarah Lovell, director of the Center for Agroforestry and H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Associate Professor, was part of a panel on “Efforts to build more sustainable systems featuring local to global perspectives across a broad range of the food and agricultural spectrum.”

Thanks to everyone who participated with our first spring Faculty/Staff Meeting Feb. 15. Associate Dean Rob Kallenbach shared the most pressing issues facing Agriculture and Environment Extension, and how our specialists are contributing solutions. In March, Associate Dean Shibu Jose will provide an update to CAFNR’s research enterprise.

Still to come this month, I will visit donors across the state and country, as well as meet with our nutrition and exercise physiology faculty members.

This Saturday we will be back in person (after a terrific virtual event last year!) for CAFNR Unlimited banquet and auctions. This event brings together CAFNR faculty, staff, alumni, students and other supporters to raise money for student scholarships and educational opportunities.

I hope you will consider nominating outstanding colleagues for Celebration of Excellence awards for 2022! We are thrilled to be celebrating these honors in person again this year, with a new format! We hope you will all consider joining us for a reception and awards ceremony Tuesday, April 19, in Bond Life Sciences Center. Nominations are due March 1; submission instructions can be found on CAFNR’s website.

On a personal note, I thank you for your thoughts and support after my mom’s passing last week. Your kindness means much to my family and me.

CAFNR Proud,

Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean

CAFNR is celebrating Black History Month by featuring some of our outstanding Black students and their stories on the web and social media this month. In addition, see the slideshow of notable African-Americans in agriculture, food and natural resources on our digital displays. Mizzou’s robust slate of events is available on the Black Studies department website. The topic this year is “Black Health and Wellness.”

The Mizzou Identity website provides resources and tools that make it easy to create Mizzou-branded content. It offers social media guidelines, Mizzou brand graphics, ready-made templates for flyers, PowerPoint and more, best practices for looking good on Zoom and even an email signature generator. Contact CAFNR Marketing & Communications if you’re looking for something brand-specific and can’t find it — we’re here to help!

The MU Career Center now offers a Selfie Studio where students, faculty and staff can take a professional-looking headshot for their LinkedIn profile and social media accounts. Users can easily adjust the lighting levels, take as many photos as they wish, edit their chosen portrait and send it to themselves directly from the studio. The Selfie Studio is located within the MU Career Center, on the lower level of the Student Success Center on Lowry Mall. It is available on a drop-in basis 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday. More information is available on the Career Center’s website.