IANR Office of Global Engagement under interim leadership

July 11, 2019

Lincoln, Neb. — IANR Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement Josh Davis has transitioned to a new role at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, now serving as associate vice chancellor for global affairs and senior international officer.

“Under Josh’s leadership, the Office of Global Engagement was successful in the development and growth of a number of IANR’s international partnerships and initiatives. I want to thank him for his service and look forward to continuing to work with Josh in this new role, as we advance efforts to become a comprehensively internationalized institution,” said Mike Boehm, NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Davis has served as assistant vice chancellor since 2015. In this role, he helped IANR create and implement a global engagement strategy, which included focused development across education, research, extension and economic development. He aligned the efforts of the office with those of the state of Nebraska. This involved a strengthened relationship with the Department of Economic Development and increased IANR participation in the governor’s trade delegations. Davis also  worked with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources to create “International Student Success Navigators” to support specific groups of international students coming to CASNR such as those in the CASNR Undergraduate Scholarship Program and the 3+1 Program, an international collaboration between the Department of Food Science and Technology and Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in China.

“It has truly been an honor to serve as part of IANR’s senior leadership team over the last four years and to work with our faculty and staff across the state,” said Davis. “In my new role I look forward to building on the good work that has already been done and working collaboratively to strengthen Nebraska’s global engagement efforts.” 

Stan Garbacz, former agricultural trade representative for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, will serve as interim director of the Office of Global Engagement effective July 1. A national search will soon be launched to identify a new permanent director. By mutual agreement with IANR, Garbacz will not be a candidate for the permanent director position.