By Jeff Murphy,
February 12, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – An organization that is instrumental in seeking federal support
for research and other opportunities at non-land-grant institutions, including the
University of Central Missouri, has UCM campus representation at the top level following
the appointment of Fanson Kidwaro to its Board of Directors. He will be meeting with
the group in March.
Kidwaro is serving a two-year term on the Non-land-grant Agricultural and Renewable
Resources Universities Board as the result of an appointment announced in October
2015 when the association conducted its annual meeting in Kansas City. The UCM professor
and chair of the Department of Biology and Agriculture since 2011 is serving as a
board member at-large, having duties that include assisting the executive board with
running the organization in collaboration with the Association of Public Land-grant
Universities (APLU). He will be attending the joint meeting of NARRU and APLU March
8-11 in Alexandria, Va., where activities will include a workshop on faculty and student
diversity, discussion about America’s agriculture future, updates from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, and more.
UCM has been a member of NARRU for 20 years, and as department chair, Kidwaro represents
the university within the association. Other members include department chairs, deans,
associate deans from NARRU member organizations across the United States.
“The purpose of our organization is to be a forum and unifying force for all faculty,
students, staff and administrators of agriculture, food, and renewable resource programs
at NARRU state-funded public colleges and universities,” Kidwaro noted. “Collectively,
we value and promote our excellence in science-based teaching with hands-on experience
in conducting responsive and issue-based research, and in communicating findings to
our stakeholders and the general public.”
He said part of the NARRU board works with its membership in lobbying congressional
representatives to support research funding for NARRU institutions.
“The great news this year is that USDA recently announced $4 million in awards for
non-land-grant colleges and universities funding for 2016. These funds support various
research projects across these institutions,” Kidwaro said.
“The appointment will put me closer to the decision-making body when it comes to grants
and projects from NARRU institutions across the U.S.,” he added. “It is going to be
beneficial for our students and faculty since I will be able to bring to them high-demand
topics in agriculture research so we can participate in applying for these grants.
My faculty is already thinking about how they can put projects together to apply for
the $4 million now available for NARRU institutions. These grants will benefit both
faculty and students.”
He noted that UCM is currently participating in a consortium grant from the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) with four other regional universities – Missouri
State, Truman State, Northwest Missouri State, and Southeast Missouri State. Their
efforts are geared toward making agriculture courses available online for Missouri
students.
According to its website, NARRU provides a vehicle for sharing ideas and exploring
avenues to help solve common problems and explore opportunities which will lead to
strengthening the instructional, research, and service programs or agriculture, renewable
natural resources, and related programs. It also helps foster their association, recognition,
and support by the public. Learn more about NARRU online at aplu.org.
Kidwaro joined UCM in 1999 as a full-time temporary instructor and has climbed the
faculty ranks to be a full professor and department chair.
