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Vision and Management of a Research Program at a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Nancy M. Cox Outline Academic and Administrative Experience Research Administration Responsibilities Challenges and Opportunities Principles Adding Value Advocacy Some memories from my PhD program Academic Experience Animal and Dairy Sciences Department, Mississippi State University, 1982-2001; adjunct professor, College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1996-2001, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) 2001 to present; University of Kentucky Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Director Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station (since 2005) Academic Experience Research Areas Influence of metabolism on reproductive function in cattle and swine Neuroendocrine control of reproductive cycles Influences of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on reproductive development Administrative Experience Responsibilities Stimulation of new funding and multidisciplinary research activities Research reporting and accountability Internal grants programs Commodity partnerships Partnerships with other land-grant missions Patenting, licensing, commercialization Regional economic development activities Administrative Experience Selected boards and committees National Agriculture Research, Economics and Education Advisory Board Governor’s Biomass Task Force State Board on Agriculture Kentucky Cattlemen’s Executive Board Soybean Promotion Board County government Equine Task Force Non-profit community boards Kentucky Ag Experiment Station College Grants Officer Betty Newsom Office of Sponsored Programs Administration Research Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability Western Kentucky Research and Education Center Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center Kentucky Tobacco R&D Center Division of Regulatory Services Associate Dean for Research Director, Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Nancy Cox Assistant Dean/ Associate Director Steve Workman Executive Assistant Carol Cole Assistant Director Lesley Oliver Accounts Manager Cherryll Duncan Statistics Graduate Assistant Program Food Systems Innovation Coordinator Equine Initiative Director Communications Director Reference Cigarette Research Program Experiment Station Director of Environmental Compliance, part time In transition: Central Kentucky Farms Administrative Leadership: MSU Remote Sensing Technologies Center Life Sciences and Biotechnology Institute Nutrient Management Task Force Administrative Leadership: UK Targets of Opportunity Plant Sciences/Natural Products Animal Health and Agrosecurity Forage-Livestock Systems Food Systems Natural Resources and the Environment Leadership and Community Development Agriculture, Pharmacy, Medicine USDA-ARS Forage-Animal Production Unit Commercial Partnerships Alltech/UK Nutritional Research Alliance at Coldstream Alltech/UK Nutrigenomics Alliance Challenges and Opportunities for LandGrant Research Programs Changing consumer preferences Globalization of trade and technology Public skepticism about science and technology Environmental concerns Fast pace of information Universities not functioning in “real time” Future Opportunities Changes in what we produce from land Bio-based fuels and industrial products Nutraceuticals/functional foods/medicinals Animal and human health and well-being Social and community issues Natural resource management Sustainability of agricultural systems NSCU CALS: challenges and opportunities • State economy: be prepared for when it rebounds • Have key leadership in state’s intellectual landscape • Sustain a more collaborative research environment • Create and sustain partnerships among diverse disciplines • Work on new federal priorities with the power of the disciplines in CALS •Support position and growth of NC Agriculture Principles Mission for Agricultural Research Administration Support a research portfolio that reflects increased competitiveness of faculty, enhances excellence in science, and positively impacts North Carolina CALS Mission: The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences discovers, teaches and applies knowledge to disciplines that effect safe, affordable supplies of food and fiber, a cleaner environment and better health for people and animals. Principles Role of the Research Administrator Promote the best science Encourage new scientific initiatives Promote relevant research Encourage transfer of technology Ensure accountability Have consistent, open policies Communicate successes to the public Adding Value Characteristics Listener Amplifier Catalyst Connector Place where the buck stops Adding Value Promotion of Quality Have high standards Provide feedback Provide incentives Provide encouragement Listen to the experts Adding Value Priority Setting Teamwork: iterative process among scientists, department heads, unit heads, and other administrators Clientele and consumer input Must combine “needs” with what we are good at Be as responsive as possible but never shortchange the scientific process Priority Setting Approaches Planning Reporting Priority Setting $35,000,000 $30,000,000 $25,000,000 UK Department Reports •Publications •Patents •Students (grad/undergrad) •External awards •Collaborative awards •Five-year trends $20,000,000 $15,000,000 $10,000,000 $5,000,000 $0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Adding Value Resources Identify new funding sources Form new partnerships Provide seed funds to build capacity for external funding in new areas Encourage multidisciplinary teams Keep in touch with national trends Always think about the future Advocacy Communicating Success Producers and stakeholders of all types Policy-makers at city, county, state and federal level State and federal agencies Campus decision-makers; president, provost, Vice President for Research Alumni and future students Summary Good science is uppermost Just doing good science is not enough The research administrator must merge good science with good accountability, excellent advocacy and increasing resources