Professor, CDAE Chair, and Center for Rural Studies Director Jane Kolodinsky was recently appointed to the USDA National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board.
According to a USDA announcement about the new members, the advisory board provides feedback to the Secretary of Agriculture, to USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, and to land-grant colleges and universities on food and agricultural research, education, extension and economics priorities and policies. The advisory board also provides reports and recommendations to the appropriate agricultural committees of the U.S. Congress.
NAREEE board members are selected and appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Each member represents a specific category of U.S. agricultural stakeholder as outlined in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. Kolodinsky will represent the Industry, Consumer, or Rural Interests category.
Kolodinsky’s nomination was supported by CALS, Senator Leahy and the leadership of the Agriculture and Applied Economics Association. Her appointment was originally made one year ago during the previous administration, but everything was put on hold since the 2020 presidential election. Secretary Vilsack reviewed the appointed members and made the decision to keep Kolodinsky on the board.