U of Missouri appoints vice president for research and economic

St. Louis Daily Record & St. Louis Countian, Sep 3, 2005 by St. Louis Daily Record Staff

John C. Gardner has been appointed to serve as vice president for research and economic development for the University of Missouri. Gardner, who currently serves as associate dean of research and outreach in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, will begin his new duties Oct.

1, 2005. In his new role, Gardner will coordinate the University of Missouri's statewide activities in the critical area of research and economic development. In his current capacity as associate dean for research and outreach in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Gardner has managed the research program of the college, both on the MU campus and among the 21 sites and 14,562 acres owned and operated by the Agricultural Experiment Station across Missouri. He also helps lead the agriculture and natural resource extension/ outreach activities through University of Missouri Extension. Prior to coming to MU in late 1999, Gardner was one of the founders and the general manager/CEO of AgGrow Oils, a grower-owned L.L.C. in North Dakota that produced, processed and marketed specialty oilseeds. AgGrow formed a joint venture with Cenex Harvest States of St. Paul, Minn., in 1999. Prior to work in the private sector, Gardner was the Director of the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center for 10 years. There he directed research on landscape-scale production of dryland and irrigated crops/vegetables and beef production systems.