Stories

March 13, 2020

Q&A With Rhonda Turner

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I am the executive assistant to Shibu Jose, the associate dean in the CAFNR Office of Research. I maintain his calendar of meetings and events ensuring he is prepared in advance. I also handle the administrative duties of the office and act as liaison to both internal and external audiences. I assist Shibu on a variety of projects related to the CAFNR Office of Research. How long have you worked in CAFNR? I will have worked in CAFNR for six years this July. What do…

March 5, 2020

Megan McCauley presents at NACADA Region 7 Conference

Megan McCauley, student service coordinator in the Office of Academic Programs, helped lead two presentations during the NACADA Region 7 Conference, which was held Feb. 27-29, in Springfield, Mo. The presentations were titled: ‘Reaching Today’s Student with Strategic Communication’ and ‘Highlighting Advisors: The Story of a First-Ever Campus Advising Poster Session.’ Jordan Parshall, an advisor in biological sciences, served as a co-presenter during both presentations.

March 3, 2020

Allison Meyer receives Outstanding Young Researcher Award from the American Society of Animal Science

Allison Meyer is the recipient of the 2020 Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Outstanding Young Researcher Award, presented to her this week during the annual 2020 Midwest ASAS-ADSA Meeting held in Omaha, Nebraska. Meyer grew up on a cow-calf operation in central Indiana before completing her bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University, master’s degree at the University of Missouri, and PhD at North Dakota State University. Meyer was on faculty at the University of Wyoming before returning to the University of Missouri in 2013. Currently, Meyer is an associate professor with a 45 percent research,…

Feb. 28, 2020

Influential Leader

Three years ago, Jamee Scearce was attending her first Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference. Now, Scearce will be returning for her fourth conference – this time with a different role. Scearce is one of only 10 students nationwide to be selected to serve as a member of the Student Advisory Team for AFA. The team held their first meeting in January. AFA is a non-profit organization that prepares collegiate students to become professionals in agriculture and related industries through various opportunities, including the annual Leaders Conference. “I really found my passion in AFA my freshman year in college…

Feb. 17, 2020

An Important Comparison

It was nearly a decade ago when the first soybean reference genome, “Williams 82,” was published in 2010. For the next several years, that cultivar, which was chosen to represent the northern United States germplasm, served as the main soybean reference genome – the sequence that gives scientists a baseline of a species’ set of genes. A few years after “Williams 82” became available, Henry Nguyen, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Plant Sciences in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), was part of a team that developed additional reference genomes, this time focusing on soybeans…

Feb. 13, 2020

Strengthening CAFNR Communication

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Office of Marketing and Communications recently added two individuals to its team – Reagan Brown and Ashley Craft. Brown has been named the CAFNR marketing communications coordinator. Craft’s new role is as the Extension communications strategist. “We are so excited to add Reagan and Ashley to our team,” said Michelle Enger, director, CAFNR Office of Marketing and Communications. “Both bring unique skillsets and experiences that will help us expand how we talk about the outstanding things happening in CAFNR.” Showcasing Missouri Agriculture Brown joins CAFNR after spending the…

Feb. 12, 2020

Celebrate CAFNR’s 150th Anniversary

It’s a big year in CAFNR! We are proud to be observing the 150th anniversary of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources in 2020. Make plans to join us in celebrating the golden legacy and bold future of our college. Save the date to join us for the CAFNR Founding Day celebration, Monday, Feb. 24. We will have a special proclamation ceremony in the Jesse Hall rotunda at 1:30 that afternoon. This event will mark 150 years to the day of our founding in 1870. Speakers will include Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who will also read a…

Feb. 11, 2020

Office of Academic Programs presents at Staff Development Workshop

The Office of Academic Programs recently attended the 2020 Academic Programs Staff Development Workshop from Feb. 5-7, 2020, in Kissimmee, Florida. Five members of the team presented during the workshop. Those individuals and their presentations are listed below. Matt Arri, director of career services — Student Development Plan: An Online Guide to Academic Success and Career Readiness Shari Freyermuth, assistant dean and director of student services, and Laura Friedrich, senior student service coordinator — Keeping Students On Track to Graduation Shanon Dickerson, program director of study abroad — How to Pack Your Bags for Study Abroad: Recruiting, Marketing and Supporting…

Feb. 5, 2020

Eric Oseland Earns New Foundation for Soy Innovation Scholarship

Eric Oseland, PhD student in plant sciences, was selected as the first recipient of the Foundation for Soy Innovation’s new scholarship. Oseland will use the $1,000 award toward travel to the March 2020 Weed Science Society of America conference where he’ll present his research on dicamba and the effect it has on soybeans. Oseland works with Kevin Bradley, professor of plant sciences, on research observing the effect low soil pH has on dicamba volatility.

Feb. 4, 2020

Building a Network

As the director of career services in the CAFNR Office of Academic Programs, Matt Arri dedicates his time to building networks and relationships between CAFNR students and industry professionals. Arri’s goal is to make sure those students are career ready – and he has introduced a variety of new initiatives to help them along the way. It was an alum who helped set up the most recent Agribusiness Career Connections Program trip. Craig Bacon, senior vice president of technical services for Simmons Prepared Foods, was part of CAFNR’s Robert O. Reich Executive-in-Residence Program in October 2018. Bacon returned to campus…