Interim Dean Daum shares vision for CANR at Michigan State University
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EmailMatthew Daum, Ph.D., the newly appointed interim dean of CANR at MSU, steps into the role with a wealth of experience and expertise. As he embarks on this new chapter, Dr. Daum shares his perspective on leadership and his vision for CANR's future.
Matthew Daum, Ph.D., the newly appointed interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, steps into the role with a wealth of experience from his tenure as director of the MSU School of Packaging and assistant dean of corporate relations and strategy. With a distinguished career in industry spanning over two decades, Dr. Daum brings extensive expertise in various facets of industry leadership. As he embarks on this new chapter as interim dean, Dr. Daum shares his motivations for returning to MSU, insights into his unique perspective on leadership in academia, his vision for CANR's future and even his personal breakfast preferences.
What brought you back to MSU after 26 years in industry?
I came back to MSU after 26 years in industry for both personal and professional reasons. Personally, it was a good time to step back and evaluate where I was spending my time and efforts at that stage in my career. I was looking for an opportunity to switch gears from a global tech environment towards something with more schedule margin for myself and family. Professionally, I was intrigued by the opportunity to make a difference for the academic institution and program that equipped me for a successful industry career.
Coming back to MSU was a unique opportunity to make a contribution to the packaging program in hopes that it continues to be a difference-maker for the next generation of students.
What’s a unique characteristic that you bring to the interim dean role?
I would say that I bring an executive global management background from a company that was a pioneer in stressing both the "how" and "what" of personal and organizational performance.
Every organization wants high performance, but I came from an environment that placed just as much emphasis on the "how" - the idea that building an inclusive culture and treating others well was imperative for organizational success. HP was and is an industry leader in equipping its employees with a skillset to achieve high performance while doing it in a collaborative and people-centered way. In that sense there are many similarities with the academic shared governance model, so it has been a straightforward transition for me.
What makes CANR unique?
Like other colleges at MSU, we have outstanding programs and a global reach. We also have some of the best faculty and staff that really care about their area of expertise and are committed to student success.
I really like the efforts towards an inclusive culture in CANR - there is always room to improve but there is a genuineness in the spirit of our college. I would also say we have very good collegiality and willingness of colleagues to work and partner across units, across the university, and with other institutions. The problems we need to solve in our modern world are far too complex to address with any one unit, so collaboration is key for significant breakthroughs.
What excites you most about the future of CANR?
I really believe we are entering a golden age for land-grant universities - never have we as a society needed more the mindset and will to work across boundaries to tackle complex issues. I think we have the mindset and mission to do just that, and there are many examples where CANR is already leading the way.
Combine that with our stellar research efforts and our strong Extension presence in every Michigan county, and we have all the pieces of a winning formula for what a modern university can be. I want to accelerate and elevate the great work the college is already doing, and partner with our stakeholders and industry to raise the profile of CANR.
Underpinning this will be our strength and commitment to be welcoming and inclusive for our students, faculty and staff.
What’s your very favorite breakfast? And a follow up: would you eat that breakfast for dinner?
Hmm... well, for a healthy choice, I like to make a good bowl of oatmeal with plenty of brown sugar, honey, cinnamon and blueberries, and a side of Greek yogurt. But my unhealthy choice would be a Cinnabon cinnamon roll and chocolate milk.
And no, I’m definitely not having it for dinner --- I like a hearty dinner with plenty of protein and veggies, so those choices would not qualify!
