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Welcome back for the spring semester! Thanks for all you’ve done to prepare for another unusual term at Mizzou and CAFNR. And thank you for continuing to practice good hand-washing hygiene, in addition to social-distancing, symptom-monitoring and mask-wearing while on campus and off. I appreciate those of you who are helping at the student COVID testing site this week. January is always a busy month. I caught up with a few stakeholder groups recently, as well as with colleagues around the country. Earlier this month I attended the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence Deans Advisory Council Meeting, and tomorrow CAFNR deans will meet with Gary Wheeler of Missouri Soybean Association. Next week I will participate in the Institute of Food Technologists Board of Directors Meeting, as well as the MU Center for Agroforestry/Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center Annual Advisory Board Meeting and the Missouri Beef Industry Council meeting. I will join the other deans on campus for the Provost’s Deans Retreat next week, as well as host interviews for the College of Engineering Dean search. I hope you will make plans to attend these upcoming virtual events: On Jan. 22, Mizzou will celebrate the retirement of Mark McIntosh, vice chancellor for research and economic development. I appreciate Dr. McIntosh’s support of CAFNR across many years. You can register for the virtual celebration, which starts at 4 p.m., online. Mizzou’s 2021 MLK Celebration will be held Jan. 26 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The event is titled, “Infinite Hope: The Power and Possibilities of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Vision,” and will feature keynote speaker Ambassador Andrew Young. Learn more about Ambassador Young, and view the livestream the day of the event, at diversity.missouri.edu. Please don’t forget about Mizzou’s many stress reduction and mental health resources available to our entire community, including counseling services, the Sanvello app promoting healthy behaviors, Zoom mindfulness and yoga sessions, and more. There are many stressors in our lives in the best of times, but especially over the past several months. Please take care of yourselves and those around you. I know we will successfully tackle another unusual semester together, as a CAFNR community! CAFNR Proud, Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean |
