I enjoy all of the opportunities at this time of year to celebrate the past 12 months and look forward to the next! Thanks to all of you who attended Novemberfest just before the Thanksgiving holiday. I was thrilled to recognize the CAFNR Grants Team with this year’s CAFNR Proud award, for going above and beyond for our researchers. Congratulations to Jeri Lou Zimmerman, Angie Hake and Monica Flynn!

We were also proud to announce leadership updates for a CAFNR Program of Distinction and a new initiative in the past few weeks.

Congratulations to Seth Meyer, who will take over as director of FAPRI on Jan. 1. Dr. Meyer currently serves as the United States Department of Agriculture’s chief economist. He will take the helm of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute from Pat Westhoff, who retires March 1. We wish Dr. Westhoff all the best in retirement!

Bryon Wiegand was announced as the inaugural director of the Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education & Training Laboratory just earlier this week. Dr. Wiegand has worked diligently in the planning and construction process for the MSL. With this new appointment, he will ultimately step down as director of the Division of Animal Sciences, but not until a new director is identified via national search.

This month I have:

• Met with Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council Executive Director, Casey Wasser
• Met with CAFNR Foundation Leadership
• Met with MFA President and CEO, Bob Huffman
• Attended Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council meeting
• Provided remarks at the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center Advisory Council meeting
• Attended Missouri Farm Bureau Luncheon
• Attended Center for Rural Energy Security meeting
• Met with University of Missouri President Mun Choi
• Visited with Provost Matt Martens
• Met with Vice Chancellor for Extension Chad Higgins

Yet to come this month:

• Attend celebration of 40 years in business for Agrithority’s Founder and President, Jerry Duff
• Meet with Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn
• Visit with Arts & Science Dean Cooper Drury
• Meet with Health Sciences Dean Kristofer Hagglund
• Visit with Veterinary Medicine Dean Sri Sreevatsan
• Meet with Business Dean Balaji Rajagopalan

Next Saturday is the best day in the life of a university! Saturday, Dec. 20, we will celebrate our Fall 2025 Commencement. See the full schedule; you are always welcome to join in the fun and festivities or watch via Livestream. Congratulations to our future newest CAFNR alumni!

I am looking forward to spending winter break with my family and friends. I hope you have a restful and restorative holiday!

CAFNR Proud,

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

A photo gallery of college happenings.

Staff Council Lunch & Learn: CPR Plus Training

CAFNR Staff Council is offering a Lunch & Learn opportunity to refresh your CPR knowledge, plus stop the bleed, stroke recognition and more. (Please note this training does not include certification.) The event is Wednesday, Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Eckles Event Center, and is for CAFNR staff only. Lunch is provided; please RSVP to Michelle Niemeyer at niemeyerm@missouri.edu.

Bill is a project coordinator in the Division of Applied Social Sciences.

A special series on generative AI’s role across CAFNR. We dive into the latest AI applications in agriculture, food science, health and natural resource management.

Digital Accessibility in Teaching
The ADA Title II regulations for digital accessibility required by the Department of Justice has an April 24, 2026, deadline for digital content including what you use for teaching. Any content that you create for education needs to be accessible for all of our students. This includes Canvas content such as announcements, quizzes, pages and assignments; but it also includes digital documents such as Word Documents, PDFs, PowerPoint slide decks, etc.

Mizzou Online can help get your content updated and accessible. Please review the digital accessibility page on the Mizzou Online website for details and to locate resources that will assist you.

International Travel
All international travel (including personal travel) must be reported via the travel authorization module in eCompliance if it includes any of the following:

• Is conducted on behalf of the university (for any university purpose, even those outside of research)
• Involves university property (such as a university computer, tablet or memory stick)
• Involves accessing university systems (including but not limited to e-mail, Teams or OneDrive from university or personal devices)

If you are traveling outside the U.S., it is recommended that you take a loaner computer with you and not take your primary university computer. CAFNR IT can assist in getting you a loaner laptop.

Please review the Export Controls and Sanctions International Travel page for details and to become more familiar with international travel requirements. There may be additional requirements if traveling to a foreign country of concern, a sanctioned country or an embargoed country.

This month we recognize the following staff member for his years of service to Mizzou!

• Laura Friedrich, director of academic initiatives and advising, CAFNR Academic Programs, celebrated 15 years of service Nov. 1.
• Scott Peck, professor, Biochemistry, celebrated 20 years of service Nov. 1.
• David Price, fertilizer inspector, Fertilizer Control, celebrated 30 years of service Nov. 1.
• Gary Weisman, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, celebrated 40 years of service Nov. 4.
• Juan Ji, senior research specialist, Biochemistry, celebrated 25 years of service Nov. 6
• Deseri Perkins, business support specialist II, School of Natural Resources, celebrated 30 years of service Nov. 6.
• Beth Brown, senior business support specialist, Ag & Environment Extension, celebrated 15 years of service Nov. 30.