The Leopold Center staff spent the week of March 20
hosting members of a review team that assessed the
Center’s work since 1998. The review process for
departments and centers is mandated by Iowa State
University, and the Center’s evaluation had been in the
works since June 2005.
The Center was fortunate to have an excellent review
team consisting of three outside evaluators and three
Iowa stakeholders. Team members were:
-
Jill S. Auburn, National Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (SARE) program director, USDA-CSREES,
Washington, D.C. (review team chair)
-
Jim Andrew, Greene County farmer, Jefferson, Iowa
-
Nancy G. Creamer,
associate professor of Horticultural Science, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
-
Rich Degner, executive director, Iowa Pork Producers
Association, Clive, Iowa
-
Larry Kallem, retired, former executive director, Iowa
Institute of Cooperatives, Madrid, Iowa
-
Gary Nabhan, director, Center for Environmental
Sciences and Education, Northern Arizona University,
Flagstaff, Arizona
The team received a self-study document prepared by the
Center prior to the visit. During their time in Ames
they met with administrators from Iowa State University
and the College of Agriculture; advisory board members;
farmers; ISU faculty, DEOs, and center directors;
representatives from farm groups, NGOs, conservation and
environmental groups; collaborators from other
institutions; and Center staff.
The team has submitted a report of their findings and
recommendations for future actions to the ISU Provost’s
Office. The Center, in consultation with the advisory
board, will provide a formal, written response to the
team’s suggestions.
|