This month I participated in meetings across the country, caught up with some current and future CAFNR students, and continued interviewing Mizzou Forward candidates. Recruiting great students and faculty members is critical to the success of CAFNR’s Drive to Distinction! I enjoyed seeing colleagues and friends at the Institute of Food Technologists Board Meetings and Annual Conference in Chicago last week. A highlight of this conference is having a meal with our own outstanding CAFNR students and faculty who also attend. Thanks to those who joined me for pizza and fun, including students Sargun Malik, Mercy Nani, Priya Singh, Salma Antora, Bezalel Adainoo and Karishma Sri, and faculty members Kiruba Krishnaswamy and Andrew Clarke (pictured above)! Later this week I will attend meetings with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (APLU CARET) in Washington, D.C. Next week I plan to join the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council Board Meeting in Jefferson City, as well as the Missouri Innovation Center Board Meeting. Also next week, I’m thrilled to join talented high school students for dinner who are exploring CAFNR majors as part of our Life Sciences Quest this summer! Thanks to everyone who works so hard to put together this great high school student summer learning academy, as well as our other summer learning opportunities across the college! Finally, I was honored to recently be invited to be part of two podcasts! The MO Crops podcast, which originates at our Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center (FD-REEC), explores topics of interest to Missouri row crop producers. It’s led by Justin Calhoun, assistant extension professor in plant science and technology, and soil and cropping systems specialist; along with Justin Chlapecka, assistant research professor in plant science and technology, and rice extension specialist; and Bradley Wilson, assistant research professor, plant science and technology. I was asked to join them to share the history and vision of our great college. Thanks for the invite! I hope you’ll give this episode (and others!) a listen via links on the FD-REEC page. I also joined the KFRU Sunday Morning Roundtable in June to talk about our college and its strengths and future. It was great being part of this program as well – you can listen online at KFRU’s site. Soon I will again be traveling the state, visiting our Research, Extension and Education Centers as they host field days, career exploration days and workshops. It is a great way to showcase to producers across Missouri the great research we do at our REECs! CAFNR Proud, Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D. CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean |