A year ago, each division and office in our college committed to taking on two action items to promote compassion, inclusivity, diversity and equity within their units. After a review and suggestions by the CAFNR IDEC Committee, directors pursued the initiatives – often more than two – and shared updates with Vice Chancellor and Dean Daubert each month, which were…
Diversity ⋅ Page 1
New Faculty Positions to Require Diversity Statement
This new requirement helps to fulfill CAFNR's strategic plan - Drive to Distinction
Cultivating a Diverse and Inclusive Community is one of our strategic priorities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Samniqueka Halsey, CAFNR’s Faculty Fellow for Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity and assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources, shares that all professional track faculty positions in CAFNR will now require a diversity statement – this new requirement is…
Developing Learning Objectives
CAFNR's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Curricula Team working on learning objectives focused on IDE and cultural competence for all CAFNR students
The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ (CAFNR) Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) Curricula Team has been working to develop a core set of learning objectives focused on IDE and cultural competence for all CAFNR students. The 12-person committee, which includes representatives from each of CAFNR’s six divisions as well as four CAFNR students, has proposed…
Becoming a More Inclusive College
Samniqueka Halsey named first CAFNR Faculty Fellow for Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity
Last year, the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) unveiled its strategic plan, “Drive to Distinction.” As part of the plan, numerous priority areas were defined, including cultivating a diverse and inclusive community. Samniqueka Halsey has always had a passion for establishing and building a culture of acceptance, equity and inclusivity. That passion made her…
Message in a Bottle
Coca-Cola executive and alumna shares insight on how she climbed to the top
As a self-proclaimed foodie growing up in Kenya, Wamwari Waichungo dreamed about working with food or agriculture, but she had yet to learn of opportunities in food science until attending college in the United States. Today, she is an executive at the iconic Coca-Cola Company, whose products she knew well from childhood. On Oct. 20-21, Wamwari, vice president of global…
Nguyen, Weisman Named Curators Professors
Dr. Henry Nguyen and Dr. Gary Weisman were both recently given the University's highest rank
Dr. Henry Nguyen, professor of plant sciences, and Dr. Gary Weisman, professor of biochemistry, were both recently named 2015 Curators Professors, the University of Missouri’s highest and most prestigious rank. Nguyen earned his Ph.D. in agronomy (genetics) from MU in 1982. He returned to MU in 2002 as the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council Endowed Professor of Genetics and Soybean Biotechnology,…
Three’s Company
Sibling trio reflects on agricultural and immigrant roots that led to Mizzou
It would not be hard to understand why Homecoming at the University of Missouri may have an extra special meaning to Hli, Yia and See Yang. As first-generation Americans and college students they share a common bond not only through their Mizzou pride but also through the embedded core values of family, hard work and agriculture that helped lead their…
Capital Gain
CAFNR graduate begins new journey as USDA chief of staff
These days, it’s not easy to catch Karla Thieman. As the newly appointed chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the days of Thieman (pronounced TEE-man) include meeting with outside stakeholders, working directly with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the budget and dealing with any personnel issues that come up for a federal agency that employs more than 99,000…
New Faces on the Roster
CAFNR welcomes faculty members
Each fall we are honored to welcome new faculty members to the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. We are lucky to attract such talented academic professionals to help fulfill our teaching, research and extension missions. This year is no exception. Our new faculty members are at the forefront in fields as varied as our degree programs – increasing…
Sharing the Stage
National community engagement academy inducts CAFNR assistant dean
If Mary Leuci had a favorite proposition, it would definitely be the word “with.” When discussing the concept of community engagement and the role it plays at the University of Missouri and the surrounding community, she gives the word a special emphasis. “Engagement is really about how the University engages with the community for mutually beneficial reasons and it’s not…