Sept. 23, 2026
Contact: Sara Diedrich, diedrichs@missouri.edu
Photo by Nicholas Andrusisian
Great universities are built by people who bring out the best in others. At the University of Missouri, that starts with investing in the people who teach, research and serve.
Through leadership programs in Missouri and across the nation, faculty and staff are developing the skills, confidence and connections to think bigger, lead more effectively and make a greater impact.
Meet the Mizzou employees putting those lessons to work.
Thinking bigger for Missouri agriculture
Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) has a long history of preparing leaders to shape the future of Missouri’s most important industry. TaylorAnn Washburn and Heike Buecking are continuing that tradition.
An extension specialist with MU Extension’s Agricultural Business and Policy Extension, Washburn recently graduated from Missouri Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow (ALOT). The immersive two-year leadership program is designed for people passionate about advancing Missouri agriculture.
Through ALOT, she explored the political, economic and social issues shaping agriculture during sessions across Missouri, a seminar in Washington, D.C., and international study experiences in Spain and Morocco.
For Washburn, the experience reinforced that leadership happens at every level.
“Whether it’s in your workplace or your community, you don’t have to have a title to make a difference,” she said. “You can get involved, share your perspective and help shape an organization’s direction. I think many of us hesitate to step into leadership because we assume there’s no place for us unless we’re the CEO, president or person in charge.”
The program also pushed her to think beyond her own experience and consider the broader factors shaping agriculture in Missouri and around the world.
“I can think bigger than I could before,” she said. “That helps MU Extension work more effectively because we can make connections at a higher level and better understand challenges that extend beyond our own communities.”
Buecking, a professor who works on beneficial plant-microbe interactions and serves as the division director of CAFNR’s Division of Plant Science and Technology, completed a two-year fellowship with the Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI). The program brings together experienced leaders from academia, government and industry for three executive-style residential sessions, individual coaching, mentoring and hands-on projects.
Through the fellowship, Buecking strengthened her strategic thinking and communication skills while gaining new approaches to faculty recruitment, problem-solving and conflict resolution.
More importantly, the experience changed how she thinks about leadership.
“I also learned that it is not one skill set or personality trait that makes you a good leader, but your ability to identify individuals with diverse talents and complementary strengths around you that help you solve complex challenges,” she said.
Helping others succeed
At Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine, leadership development starts with giving faculty the tools to tackle what’s next. Two faculty members recently gained those tools through the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Leadership Academy, a competitive national program that prepares emerging leaders for the challenges of academic veterinary medicine.
Tamara Hancock, an associate teaching professor of veterinary pathobiology, and Pamela Adkins, an associate professor in veterinary medicine and surgery, were nominated by Dean Srinand Sreevatsan to participate in the academy. The program gave them a deeper understanding of leadership and strategies for supporting others.
One of Hancock’s biggest takeaways was the distinction between management and leadership.
“Management is about overseeing tasks and responsibilities, while leadership is about the influence you have on other people,” she said. “Leadership is reflected in the actions you take to help others succeed and thrive. When you invest in helping others grow, they naturally look to you for guidance, support and advice.”
For Hancock, the academy made leadership feel both more attainable and authentic.
“It was reassuring to hear accomplished leaders speak candidly about the challenges they face and the strategies they use to stay effective,” she said. “Their honesty reminded me that successful leadership isn’t about doing everything perfectly — it’s about knowing yourself, taking care of yourself and creating the conditions for others to succeed.”
Adkins particularly valued learning about the different ways people process information and how that can shape communication.
“One of the biggest benefits has been increased confidence in my abilities as a leader,” she said. “I immediately put into practice what I learned about providing effective feedback. Having a framework and practical strategies for those conversations has been incredibly helpful. Knowing how to deliver constructive, meaningful feedback really elevates your professional skills.”
Leading through change
For DJ Ryu, leading at a land-grant university means finding ways to bring research, academics and MU Extension together to solve complex challenges. Ryu, director of CAFNR’s Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, was among 84 participants in Leadership for the 21st Century (LEAD21), a yearlong national program that prepares leaders from land-grant universities nationwide.
Through three in-person sessions and individual learning activities, Ryu strengthened his leadership skills, expanded his national network and developed a personalized plan to lead with greater impact.
Nominated for the program by Dean Christopher Daubert, Ryu said one of the most valuable aspects of LEAD21 was learning how to approach leadership within complex systems.
“I also gained practical tools for navigating change, building productive relationships and leading through uncertainty,” he said. “The leadership skills and national perspective I gained will help me support innovative research, prepare students to lead in their professions, strengthen partnerships with industry and communities, and enhance the impact of Mizzou's land-grant mission throughout Missouri.”
