CANR Dean's Update - Oct. 11, 2016

A message from Ron Hendrick, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Colleagues:

We're certainly settling into fall on campus - one of the most beautiful seasons of change around here. Whether it's the temperatures dropping (which I like) or the trees changing color, there's no doubt that October shows change more than any other month of the year on campus.

This is also a season for writing nominations for a variety of annual awards given by the college and the university. Preparing such nominations inspires us to reflect on who and what is important to our college. (Information about several awards appears elsewhere in this issue.)

When I think about awards, I think about the people who don't let us settle in our ways, who realize there is much still to do, and who challenge us to do better. I think about those who push us to new heights. Do they sometimes make us uncomfortable? Yes. Change requires us to become different -- it requires us to ask questions to which we may not have answers. It asks us to take risks.

I ask you to think about "changers" when it comes to these awards - Spartans who lead the way, who don't settle for the status quo, who want us to be better than yesterday. Consider nominating a team or individual for the Staff Advisory Council Awards, or an alumnus, friend or colleague for the Alumni or Distinguished Service Awards.

Think, too, about those undergraduate students who can help us reach new heights, and encourage them to apply for the new Justin S. Morrill Scholars program. These scholars will represent CANR at key events, gain valuable leadership experience, and work directly with me and other leaders in advancing the college's mission and interests.

I'd like to say a special thank you to Drs. Rufus Isaacs and Jen Owen, who recently traveled with me to St. Louis and Minneapolis, respectively, to share their research with MSU alumni in those regions. Alumni from all over MSU look to our college to help solve some of the world's most pressing issues - and we don't let them down.

I'm looking forward to meeting many of our alumni and friends at the 41st annual AutumnFest on Nov. 12 at the MSU Pavilion. Please consider joining us there.

As always, please email news for the CANR community to CANRdean@msu.edu. And, if you're a social media user, I'm on Twitter @Ron_Hendrick, and so is the college, @CANRatMSU. Give us a follow.

As always, please email news for the CANR community to CANRdean@msu.edu. And, if you're a social media user, I'm on Twitter @Ron_Hendrick, and so is the college @CANRatMSU. Give us a follow.

Sincerely,

Ron Hendrick
Professor & Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

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