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Kicking off this fall semester was exciting, as we announced a record-breaking class of new students in CAFNR! I am thrilled that so many students chose our college as their academic home. We also welcomed 18 new faculty members, and awarded promotion and/or tenure to eight others! As we settle into the semester, I share with you a few changes in the Dean’s Office: - Laura Thiessen has joined us as associate director of human resources. She supports CAFNR as well as MU Extension and the Trulaske College of Business, and joins us from MU Advancement. We are thrilled to have Laura’s expertise on our team! And we thank Dr. Kim LeCompte for nearly three years of exceptional work building our HR presence and capacity.
- We are delighted that Dr. Samniqueka Halsey is continuing as our Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence. She will continue to serve our college and our united vision to become a more accepting and welcoming academic community.
We hope you will plan to join us for a special gift announcement to the college next week. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. in the Ag Building Courtyard, we will recognize D. Shawn Poore and E. Maurine Mayer for an estate gift to CAFNR. We are humbled that Shawn, our executive director for advancement, not only helps to fundraise for CAFNR student scholarships, but also believes in our mission enough to give in this way himself, along with his mother, Maurine. It will be a special event, and I hope you will join us. Please also join President Choi for his 2024 State of the University address on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m. in Jesse Auditorium. He will highlight progress made and share future plans to achieve excellence. Plan to attend in person if you are able. We have quite an impressive line-up of external and internal experts lined up to discuss a number of research topics for the fourth annual CAFNR Research Symposium. The event kicks off with a full day of celebration of the 75th anniversary of the clinical potential of Aureomycin and the impact of soil research. Aureomycin, the first tetracycline antibiotic, was discovered in CAFNR’s Sanborn Field, right on campus. Please register to attend Sept. 30-Oct. 1! Finally, I hope you will encourage your students to attend the Fall 2024 CAFNR/Arts & Science Career Fair, Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Mizzou Arena. Note the new location and times, from fairs past! No matter if they are first-semester freshmen or graduating seniors, the opportunity to network with professionals in their fields and learn about career opportunities will take them far. So far in September I have: - Taken over as president of the Institute of Food Technologists
- Met with faculty in the Division of Plant Science & Technology and the School of Natural Resources
- Participated in a meeting about the MizzouForward Biomedical/Health Priority Areas
- Met with the new dean in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Srinand “Sri” Sreevatsan
- Attended a meeting of the MU Engagement & External Relations Working Group
- Participate in a State Agroforestry Law discussion with the Missouri Department of Conservation
Yet to come this month I will: - Attend a Council of Deans meeting
- Attend the Johnny Morris Institute for Fisheries, Wetlands & Aquatic Systems’ Central Missouri Wild Harvest Dinner
- Meet with Jason Sumners, director of the Missouri Department of Conservation
- Meet with Garrett Hawkins, Missouri Farm Bureau president
- Attend Missouri Innovation Center executive committee meeting
- Meet with Provost Matt Martens
CAFNR Proud, Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean |
