Welcome back! I hope that each of you had a wonderful break and enjoyed special time with friends and family. Time away from our everyday tasks can be remarkably restorative. I am confident that, as always, you return to your work and study community with renewed enthusiasm and vigor.

Many of you may have heard already, but I want all of you to know about a sad event that happened over winter break. Dr. Wayne McDaniel, an engineering faculty member and associate director of the Mizzou Technology Advancement Office, passed away in Thailand while co-leading a CAFNR study abroad program. Dr. McDaniel had been part of that program for the last 10 years, and is missed. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts, as well as the students and other faculty and staff who participated in the program.

The efforts of our college continue in the New Year. Just after the break I attended a meeting in Jefferson City to provide the Missouri Forest Products Association with an update regarding the Missouri Food, Beverage and Forest Product Manufacturing Initiative, one of the Grand Ideas from our strategic plan. Two weeks ago, the Provost hosted a Deans’ Retreat at the State Historical Society of Missouri. It was a great opportunity to look to the future of Mizzou. The five-year strategic planning process for the Missouri Innovation Center is underway, and I am happy to take part.

I enjoyed attending the Chancellor’s Reception for the University of Missouri Flagship Council at The Residence on the Quad last week. Our vice chancellor and dean emeritus Tom Payne is co-chair of the council’s board of directors, and Robin Wenneker (member of the CAFNR Foundation Executive Committee) and Bruce Loewenberg (CAFNR alum) joined as new members of the Flagship Council Jan. 1.

Protein sources are always a big need for The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. Between donations by Dr. Bill Lamberson, director of the Division of Animal Sciences, the Mizzou Swine Club, and CAFNR administration, our Mizzou Meat Market recently shared more than 500 lbs. of pork and beef with the food bank to help those in need. I am glad we were able to help fill this need.

2020 is the year of our college’s 150th anniversary. I am proud to be part of an institution with such a long legacy! I hope you will follow along with the activities and initiatives planned over our anniversary year.

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

In November, CAFNR Staff Advisory Council provided First Aid certification training to 32 employees across the college.

Tell Your Students!
The Spring 2020 CAFNR/Arts and Science Career Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, from 12 until 4 p.m. in the Mizzou Rec Center.

Can You Help?
Each of the past four years, CAFNR International Programs has sponsored the Missouri Youth Institute (MYI), a one-day program of dialogue and workshops to explore and solve local, national and global hunger and food security/insecurity issues. The 5^th Annual Missouri Youth Institute will be Monday, March 2, on the MU campus. Please contact CAFNR International Programs (schneebergerk@missouri.edu) if you would like to guide and mentor the students at the March 2 event. This is an excellent opportunity for both MU students and faculty to meet some of Missouri’s best high school students.