If there is a single mandate that guides land-grant universities it is to share insights discovered through research to better the lives of the people it serves. It’s a beautiful thing when that relationship is reciprocal.

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Dean Mike Weiss recently invited select representatives from the college’s service and impact areas, including life sciences, business and community development, farming, and ranching, to serve on the his advisory board.

The board is a relatively new configuration of a long-held tradition. Since the 1940s, the college has sought the input of the Agricultural Consulting Council.

Two years ago, college administrators began to conceptualize a board that more accurately represented its diverse constituents, and in 2002, formed a Dean’s Advisory Board of 20 members.

The group now meets quarterly to serve as a sounding board to keep the college abreast of on-the-ground trends and to provide insight into how the college can best serve its many constituents.

Board members Terry Turner, Lorraine Roach, and Sara Braasch typify the diverse fields and interests of today’s new board.

Terry Turner: Managing FDA required clinical studies

Turner earned a bachelor of science degree in microbiology in 1989 and a master’s in bacteriology in 1991 at the UI.

He now works as clinical project manager for Sonus Pharmaceutical in Bothell, Wash.

Turner’s most recent contributions to his field include managing clinical studies required by the FDA to get approval of new drugs. He is working on two being tested for safety and effectiveness in treating cancer.

“In my career, it is a useful exercise to think things through from different perspectives,” Turner said.

“I see the advisory board as a forum for the dean and his staff to get alternative views on issues impacting strategic decisions.”

Lorraine Roach: Visions for rural Idaho

Roach is president of the Hingston Roach Group, a business and community development company based in Grangeville. A third-generation Idaho entrepreneur with a degree in business management and marketing from the University of Puget Sound she has 20 years of experience in strategic planning in the U.S. and abroad.

Roach sees her role in terms of the college’s impact on Idaho’s economic development. “I hope to help ask the right questions and provide perspective about CALS’ role in creating a vision and direction for the future of agriculture and rural economic development in Idaho,” said Roach.

“I believe that the college is an essential partner in economic development and a key component in creating value-added, specialty products in Idaho that return more money to producers and bolster Idaho’s rural economy.”

Roach hopes the board can help build stronger bonds among research, extension, and communities and envisions a broader role for extension in rural development, “to better link businesses to the brain trust on campus.”

Sara Braasch: Concern for ranchers

Braasch offers a more traditional agricultural viewpoint as executive vice president of the Idaho Cattle Association (ICA). She brings concerns of Idaho’s ranchers and animal feeding operations to the board. After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Albertson College of Idaho, she served as legislative assistant to Sen. Larry Craig from 1995 to 1997. She helped craft agricultural legislation including the 1996 Farm Bill.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to provide the dean with input from stakeholders,” said Braasch. “That dialogue provides for a very fluid relationship that allows the college to meet needs of industry on the ground. It also helps provide industry support for college activities and programs as they develop.”

The board includes the dean and his staff; one representative from each college advisory board; representatives from the national agricultural advocacy group (CARET); Idaho’s agriculture advocacy group; food producers; representatives from Idaho’s legislature, one from house agricultural affairs and one from senate agricultural affairs; the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI); and the Idaho Department of Agriculture director.

The board also serves as an advocacy group at state and federal levels.

Says Weiss, “Our college has such a wide array of responsibilities and impact areas, we wanted to make sure the board reflected that. I think we’ve got a really good balance.”