Stories

Pavel Somavat joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering (FSB) this year as an assistant professor of food science/biomedical, biological and chemical engineering. Somavat taught courses in food science and researched natural food colors, grain and biomass processing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley before joining CAFNR. Somavat was at CCS Haryana Agricultural University before joining the faculty at Rio Grande Valley. Photo courtesy of Pavel Somavat.

Dec. 14, 2020

Working to Benefit Society

Pavel Somavat spent four years teaching electrical engineering at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, a land-grant university located in India. Somavat enjoyed the underlying philosophy and offerings of the land-grant system – and when he had an opportunity to take a faculty position at one of the two land-grant universities in Missouri, he jumped at the chance. Somavat joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering (FSB) this year as an assistant professor of food science/biomedical, biological and chemical engineering. Somavat taught courses in food science and researched natural food…
The agricultural systems management (ASM) program is updating its name to reflect new strategic priorities. The new name change, which went into affect in October, is from ASM to agricultural systems technology (AST).

Dec. 14, 2020

A Strategic Change

It was just a few years after Leon Schumacher joined the University of Missouri that the agricultural mechanization program changed its name to Agricultural Systems Management (ASM). The program, located in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering (FSB), updated its name in the early 1990s to reflect the changing teaching focus, as well as the ever-changing technology. Now, nearly 30 years later, the program is updating its name once again to reflect new strategic priorities. The new name change, which went into effect in October, is from ASM to Agricultural Systems…
Laura outside smiling.

Dec. 11, 2020

Q&A With Laura Friedrich

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I am a student services coordinator — so I always say my job is to help students (and families) get from where they are today to graduation. Whether that’s advising students, helping them change their major, declaring a minor, withdrawing from classes, or reviewing and submitting graduation plans. I’m also the lucky person who gets to read names at graduation. A more fun part is officially awarding the degrees to graduates in the college based on their submitted grad plans. How long have you worked…
Kaija Caldwell in graduation stole.

Dec. 10, 2020

Q&A With Kaija Caldwell

Why did you decide to come to the University of Missouri and major in animal sciences? What do you enjoy about the program itself? The field of study? I decided to come to Mizzou because it was far enough from home that I could create a new, unique chapter of my life but close enough that I could get there quickly if something were to arise and I needed to be home. After touring the Animal Science Research Center and hearing how much hands-on experience I would obtain working with animals in my classes, I knew this was the place…
Rebecca-Mott

Dec. 7, 2020

Rebecca Mott Appointed to Committee With American Association for Agricultural Education

Rebecca Mott, assistant Extension professor in the Division of Applied Social Sciences, has been appointed to a three-year term on the North Central Region’s Program Improvement Committee with the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE). AAAE aims to foster excellence in the discovery and exchange of evidence-based solutions for social science challenges in agriculture and related sciences. Her service term will continue through 2023.
Portrait of Christopher Daubert

Dec. 4, 2020

Vice Chancellor & Dean Daubert Named to MO-5 Statewide Consortium Task Force

Christopher Daubert, Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, has been named to the Missouri Food, Feed, Fiber, Fuel and Forest (MO-5) Consortium Leadership Circle by Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. MO-5 is an initiative of the Show-Me-State Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Task Force, established in 2019 with a focus on enhancing value-added processing in Missouri. Dean Daubert also serves on the Show-Me-State Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Task Force. The vision for MO-5 is a hybrid public-private-university structure nimble enough to respond quickly to growth opportunities for existing Missouri agribusinesses,…
CAFNR IT team received CAFNR Proud award

Nov. 20, 2020

CAFNR IT Team Recognized with CAFNR Proud Award

The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has recognized the CAFNR IT team with the CAFNR Proud award for their tireless work assisting with technology for virtual learning and working over the past nine months. Those recognized included: Drew Backues Matthew Keeler, group supervisor Tonya Mueller Cynthia Richards Greg Rotert Chris Shriver Matt Stanley Gary Tyler…
Hannah Hemmelgarn speaks during a past organic field day event. Photo taken pre-COVID-19 pandemic.

Nov. 13, 2020

Q&A With Hannah Hemmelgarn

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? As the Center for Agroforestry’s outreach and education coordinator, I develop informational materials like the Agroforestry Podcast and monthly newsletters, and I organize and execute a number of events. The Agroforestry Academy, an annual week-long intensive train-the-trainer program, is one of our most recognized offerings. We’re also looking forward to the upcoming Agroforestry Symposium, which will take place January 28-30, 2021; this year’s theme is Community Health and Resilient Food Systems. How long have you worked in CAFNR? I’ve been in this position…
In an effort to offer CAFNR students an international experience from Columbia, Shanon Dickerson and the CAFNR Office of Academic Programs have developed the Go Global! campaign. The main focus of the campaign is on virtual internships and preparing students for future study abroad experiences.

Nov. 11, 2020

Going Global (Virtually)

Being adaptable is a major role for a director of study abroad at a university. Directors deal with program changes, passports that need updated at the last minute and students who miss their flights, among with many other important matters. Shanon Dickerson understands that serving as CAFNR director of study abroad requires her to think outside of the box quite often. That mindset has been even more important as international travel has been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to offer CAFNR students an international experience from Columbia, Dickerson and the CAFNR Office of Academic Programs have…
Amy Moum headshot

Nov. 6, 2020

Amy Moum Receives CAFNR Above and Beyond Award

On Nov. 1, Amy Moum, program support coordinator in the Division of Applied Social Sciences, received the Above and Beyond Award from CAFNR Staff Advisory Council. This award recognizes staff who have gone the extra mile in their jobs. She was nominated by Jaelyn Peckman, instructor, Division of Applied Social Sciences.