Nancy M. Cox

Vision and Management of a Research Program at a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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 ExperienceResearch 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 ExperienceResponsibilities

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 ExperienceSelected 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

Assistant Dean/ Associate Director

Steve Workman

Food Systems Innovation Coordinator

Associate Dean for ResearchDirector, Kentucky Agricultural

Experiment StationNancy Cox

Executive Assistant Carol Cole

Accounts Manager

Cherryll Duncan

College Grants Officer Betty Newsom

Office of Sponsored Programs Administration

Statistics Graduate Assistant Program

Research Center for Appalachian Resource

Sustainability

Kentucky Tobacco R&D Center

Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center

Division of Regulatory Services

Reference Cigarette Research Program

Equine InitiativeDirector

Communications Director

Experiment Station Director of Environmental

Compliance, part time

In transition: Central Kentucky Farms

Western Kentucky Research and

Education Center

Assistant DirectorLesley Oliver

Kentucky Ag Experiment Station

Administrative Leadership: MSU

Remote Sensing Technologies Center

Life Sciences and Biotechnology Institute

Nutrient Management Task Force

Administrative Leadership: UKTargets 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

Alltech/UK Nutritional Research Alliance at Coldstream

Alltech/UK Nutrigenomics Alliance

Commercial Partnerships

Challenges and Opportunities for Land-Grant 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

PrinciplesMission 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

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

Role of the Research Administrator

Adding ValueCharacteristics

Listener Amplifier Catalyst Connector Place where the buck stops

Adding ValuePromotion of Quality

Have high standards Provide feedback Provide incentives Provide encouragement Listen to the experts

Adding ValuePriority 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 short-

change the scientific process

Priority SettingApproaches

Planning Reporting

Priority Setting

$0

$5,000,000

$10,000,000

$15,000,000

$20,000,000

$25,000,000

$30,000,000

$35,000,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

UK Department Reports• Publications• Patents• Students

(grad/undergrad)• External awards• Collaborative awards• Five-year trends

Adding ValueResources

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

AdvocacyCommunicating 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