Being Involved and Engaged at State, Regional and National

Levels

James J. ZuichesVice Chancellor for

Extension, Engagement and Economic Development

December 12, 2006

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Alternative Definitions of Leadership

• Serious meddling with the lives of others.—Max DePree

• Leadership is an influence relationship among leaders and their collaborators who intend real changes that reflect their mutual purpose.

—Joe Rost, 1993

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Why we don’t get involved

– Lack of time– Ignorance of issues– Someone else is doing it– It’s too big a job and I am only one person– Elitism of science vs. politics– Politicians won’t listen to me– I can’t afford it– I’m not allowed to advocate Science, 314:

7NOV06:1081

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Why Have I gotten involved?

NSF – 1980 –David Stockman proposed to zero out all funding for social, economic and behavioral sciences research.

AAAS – 1984 - millions for high tech research; none to understand what social, organizational and economic factors contributed to successful programs in high technology.

NRI – 1994- How would rural social and economic sciences be part of the new National Research Initiative?

USDA –1999-failure to grow funding; ongoing proposals to cut base funds; “Not Keeping up with the Jones’”

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Academic InvolvementAcademic Involvement

• Scholar/Outreach: Journal articles, book chapters, editorials, testimony

• National Research Council, NAS– Future of Land-Grant Universities

Committee– Framework Committee to review NIOSH

Research Program– Board on Agriculture and Natural

Resources (BANR)• Professional Societies: AAAS, RSS, ASA, PAA, CAST

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Administrative Involvement

• Sociology Program Director, NSF

• Associate Director, SAES, and Office for Research, Cornell Univ. (Indirect costs, Patents and Licensing)

• Director, Agricultural Research Center, WSU (Agricultural, Human Sciences, Natural Resource Sciences)

• Director, Community and Rural Development Program, W. K. Kellogg Foundation

• Director, Cooperative Extension, WSU

• Dean, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, WSU

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Administrative InvolvementAdministrative Involvement

• University-wide Committees– Intellectual Property– Integrated Marketing Program

• NASULGC, Board on Agriculture, Budget Chair, FY99

• ESCOP, AHS, BAA, NAREEEB• State and National Legislative Activities

– Safe Food Initiative, WSU– National Coalition for Rural Entrepreneurship– NC Agromedicine Institute, ECU, NCA&T,

NCSU

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Engaging the Land Grant UniversityEngaging the Land Grant University

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From State to National Involvement

National Coalition for Rural Entrepreneurship• Local Leadership

– Community: 182 organizations with 10+ members

– State: 47 states

• Regional Leadership: Regional Rural Development Centers

• National leadership: USDA, CARET, NASULGC

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Rural EntrepreneurshipRural EntrepreneurshipListening Sessions by Region, 2005Listening Sessions by Region, 2005

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Where Do We Go From Here?Where Do We Go From Here?

Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative• State initiatives: underway• Farm Bill Language: submitted• Support from constituent groups; Corn growers

white paper: “Taking Ownership of Grain Belt Agriculture” called for entrepreneurial education

• Support from Extension (ECOP); eXtension• Support from NASULGC-CREATE 21• Support for National Coalition by those

providing rural entrepreneurship programs• Support from Executive Branch and Congress

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From State to National Involvement

• Local Leadership– County/community– University– State

• Regional Leadership

• National leadership• Federal Government

– Senate– House