Mary Hasenoehrl sounds like a perfect fit for the UI College of Agricultural and Life Sciences development director.

“I’ve been involved in agriculture my entire life. My dad—Dan Warfield—graduated from the college and served for years as Washington County extension agent, and my husband, Gary, is in agriculture,” growing everything—wheat, lentils, garbanzo beans, grass seed. The mother of sons Jake, 18, and Ray, 16, is convinced agriculture plays “a critical role in everyone’s life.”

In addition, the outgoing, vivacious brunette brings with her 14 years of Idaho and Palouse-area public relations experience, first convincing grain growers to sell to Stegner Grain and Seed Company in Lewiston, and later, representing Sen. Mike Crapo in northern Idaho.

Since assuming the UI CALS development position in August, Hasenoehrl meets with college alumni and friends, current and retired faculty, and staff. “My mission is to make sure people are aware of the great things CALS is doing—great research, great students coming from our college. I try to find ways our friends and alums can help promote our mission. And, I seek ways to match their interests with what is meaningful to college needs.”

2006 goals include new FCS facilities
Goals for 2006 are “to get out and meet all our friends and alums around the state.” She and CALS veteran Kay Maurin hope to get better acquainted with alums through a series of special events—barbecues, receptions, outings—where they can share what CALS is doing, and seek support towards college goals.
Her impression of alums so far is that “everyone is very generous. I’m amazed at the number of faculty and staff that give back to UI, and I’m very impressed with alumni and friends. This year they and organizations have contributed $1.3 million to our college.”

Gifts go toward scholarships, to enhance faculty salaries, and to fund research. Fund raising also will support renovation of the School of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Foods Lab and Child Development Lab.
It’s not exactly what she studied to do. Hasenoehrl attended Lewis-Clark State College on a basketball scholarship and earned a vocational-tech degree in respiratory therapy.

“Sometimes life takes you in different directions,” she explains.
Contact Mary Hasenoehrl at mhaseno@uidaho.edu.