Patrick Cudney to lead government and stakeholder relations for College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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EmailPatrick Cudney has been appointed the director of government and stakeholder relations for Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension.
Patrick Cudney has been appointed the director of government and stakeholder relations for Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension. Currently, Cudney is associate director of MSU Extension.
Kelly Millenbah, interim dean of CANR, says Cudney’s strong reputation among stakeholders and legislators make him a natural choice for this role.
“Patrick’s background in MSU Extension has taken him throughout the state where he helped ensure that MSU’s programs were implemented into the kind of transformational education that residents across all 83 counties need,” said Millenbah. “Our research and educational opportunities through outreach and engagement make this college unique. Patrick understands that and enjoys working with people to tell those stories.”
Cudney will serve as a liaison between the university and the Michigan legislature and state departments as he develops and maintains collaborative relationships with stakeholders in food, agriculture and natural resource sectors.
Before joining MSU Extension’s executive leadership team, Cudney was a district director in northwest Michigan where he saw the application of field research in action.
“Patrick is very familiar with MSU AgBioResearch programs both on campus and at our 15 centers around the state,” said Doug Buhler, director of MSU AgBioResearch. “He is well-versed in articulating how that research impacts both farmers and consumers throughout the state.”
Cudney began his career with MSU Extension 25 years ago as a 4-H agent. Since then, he has taken on progressively larger leadership roles. Quentin Tyler, director of MSU Extension, says though Cudney will be missed on his executive leadership team, he is grateful that they will continue to work together.
“Nobody knows MSU Extension better than Patrick,” said Tyler. “He doesn’t see the college, AgBioResearch and MSU Extension as three different entities. He understands how the three are intertwined, and how that relationship makes a difference in this state and across the country.”
Cudney will begin this role full time on January 1, 2022.
