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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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