St. Paul Campus Student Leader Gathering

Good afternoon, everyone.

First, I want to recognize my fellow Regents, Penny Wheeler and Ellen Luger. Thank you both for being here and for your commitment to the University of Minnesota.

I want to begin by talking about something I believe is incredibly important to the future of our University — our investment in the St. Paul Campus.

We are beginning a major revitalization of this campus, including a new $126 million St. Paul Campus Center. But this investment is about much more than buildings. It is about our commitment to the future of agriculture, food, natural resources, and the people and industries that depend on them.

According to the USDA, Minnesota ranks sixth in the nation in gross farm receipts. From our farms and food processors to our agricultural technology companies, food and agriculture are fundamental to our state's economy.

And the University of Minnesota plays a critical role in that success.

We are a land-grant university. That is more than a designation. It is a responsibility.

Our job is to educate, conduct research, and take that knowledge beyond our campuses to improve the lives of Minnesotans.

We also have a tremendous responsibility to our natural environment. The challenge for the future is simple: We must produce more while using less. We need to become more efficient, productive, and cost-effective while protecting our soil, water, and natural resources for future generations.

That is where science, innovation, and the University of Minnesota can make an enormous difference.

I have a very clear goal for CFANS and the St. Paul Campus.

Minnesota is the sixth-largest agricultural state in the country by gross farm receipts. I believe we should consistently have one of the top ten food and agricultural colleges in the United States.

Not occasionally. Consistently.

We have the agricultural economy, industry partnerships, research capabilities, and land-grant heritage to accomplish that.

And I believe that is a reasonable expectation for a state that depends so heavily on agriculture and food production.

But here's what I really want to emphasize today.

The responsibility for making CFANS great does not rest solely with the Board of Regents, President Cunningham, or our new dean.

The Regents can establish priorities and approve investments. The President can provide vision and leadership. The Dean can recruit outstanding faculty and build great programs.

But we cannot do it alone.

That responsibility belongs to every single person in this room.

It belongs to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the agricultural and food industries throughout Minnesota.

We can build the finest classrooms, laboratories, and student facilities in the country. We can invest hundreds of millions of dollars.

But buildings don't make a great university. People do.

And that means each of us must make a personal commitment.

Every one of us needs to be a recruiter for this University. Encourage young people to attend the University of Minnesota, particularly CFANS. Tell its story, promote its opportunities, and help attract outstanding students.

And our commitment cannot end with recruiting.

Every one of us needs to give back through our time, our talents, and our involvement. Mentor a student. Open doors for internships and careers. Support research. Stay engaged as alumni. Find a way to serve.

We cannot simply expect the University to be great. We have to help make it great.

That's why I'm especially pleased to be here with so many student leaders today.

I want to recognize all of you who are involved in student organizations, clubs, academic and professional associations, fraternities, sororities, and the many other activities that make the St. Paul Campus such a special community.

As a proud Farm House Fraternity member myself, I know firsthand the importance of the friendships, leadership experiences, and lifelong relationships that come from being involved on campus.

But regardless of which organization you belong to, you are all leaders, and you all have a responsibility to help shape the future of this campus.

The St. Paul Campus has always had a special sense of community. As we make these investments, we must preserve that character while building an even stronger future.

And I challenge every one of you to stay involved, recruit future students, and remain committed to this University long after graduation.

Now, I want to introduce someone who I believe will play an important role in the future of this campus and our University.

Dr. Shibu Jose, who has been named our next dean of CFANS and director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, effective February 15, 2027, pending Board approval.

I am genuinely excited about Dr. Jose and what he brings to Minnesota.

He comes to us from the University of Missouri with nearly 30 years of experience in agricultural research, education, and leadership.

He has managed an agricultural experiment station with more than 14,000 acres of research farms. He has built partnerships with farmers, commodity organizations, businesses, and government agencies. And under his research leadership, Missouri's agricultural research enterprise reached record levels of investment, exceeding $117 million in annual expenditures.

But what impresses me most is his philosophy.

He understands that agricultural research must work in the real world. It must help farmers become more profitable, industries become more competitive, and communities become stronger — while protecting our natural resources.

He understands production agriculture, livestock, crops, water, technology, and the economic realities facing our farmers.

He also believes deeply in students, hands-on learning, and creating opportunities for young people from rural communities.

I believe Dr. Jose is exactly the kind of leader we need at this moment.

He brings experience, fresh ideas, a strong work ethic, and an understanding that a land-grant university must be connected to the people it serves.

And I want to ask everyone in this room to get behind him. Share your ideas, offer your support, open your doors, and help him succeed.

Because his success will be our success, and the success of CFANS will be a success for all of Minnesota.

Dr. Jose, welcome to Minnesota. We are excited to have you here, and we look forward to building something extraordinary together.

Finally, I want to recognize President Rebecca Cunningham.

President Cunningham shares our commitment to strengthening the St. Paul Campus, advancing our land-grant mission, and ensuring that the University serves all of Minnesota.

We have the right state, the right industries, the right University, and most importantly, the right people to accomplish something extraordinary.

Let's make the St. Paul Campus a place that every Minnesotan is proud of, that our industries depend upon, and that the nation recognizes for excellence.

The University is making the investment.

Now I'm asking every one of you to make your investment — through your time, your talents, your leadership, and your commitment to recruiting the next generation.

Because ultimately, the people in this room will determine how great this University becomes.

Thank you.

It is now my pleasure to introduce the President of the University of Minnesota, Dr. Rebecca Cunningham.