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Welcome to the spring 2022 semester! I look forward to a great term with all of you and our outstanding students. This new year has already been busy! I kicked off January with the very first meeting of the Missouri Food Entrepreneur Network (Mo-FEN), with representatives from across the state, including Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Director Chris Chinn of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Mo-FEN is an arm of the Show-Me Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Initiative. In addition, seven other colleges and universities were represented at the meeting, including Northwest Missouri State University, College of the Ozarks, Lincoln University, Truman State University, Southeast Missouri State University, University of Central Missouri and Missouri State University (group photo, above, courtesy Missouri Department of Agriculture). What a great way to kick off this important initiative! The Show-Me Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Initiative is one of the Grand Ideas in our CAFNR strategic plan. Also this month I have attended two Deans Council Meetings; budget meetings with Mizzou administration as well as CAFNR division directors; a meeting with our Agricultural Systems Technology faculty; the HARC/UMCA advisory board meeting; meetings with President Mun Choi and Provost Latha Ramchand; our CAFNR Core Team regular meeting; and meetings with division directors up for review this semester. I also had lunch with Don Nikodim, Executive Vice President of the Missouri Pork Association, on Jan. 13, and attended the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City board meeting Jan. 20. This week I look forward to visiting with our CAFNR deans, CFO and division directors at our regular meeting; attending President Choi’s monthly leadership team meeting; and being part of a CAFNR Policy Committee meeting. In addition, I will attend the Missouri Innovation Center Board meeting Jan. 26, and the Annual Boone County Legislative Forum, presented by the Mizzou Alumni Association, on the 27th. I encourage all of you to attend (virtually!) Mizzou’s celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday this evening. It is always an inspiring event! This year’s keynote speaker is Ashley M. Jones, Alabama’s first Black – and youngest – poet laureate. Find more information, including the livestream link on Mizzou’s website. The virtual event begins at 7 p.m. this evening. Proud to begin another semester with all of you! Thanks for all you do for our students. CAFNR Proud, Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean |
