Beef, poultry industries welcome new ag dean

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Dr. Charles Graham talks with Dr. Elsa Murano, Texas A&M's new Vice Chancellor and Dean of the university's Agriculture and Life Sciences Department, during a Jan. 25 dinner reception in her honor. Many top cattle and poultry industry leaders were present at the event. -- Staff photo by Taylor

Feb. 3, 2005 - If you wanted to see the "who's who" list in Texas cattle and poultry, you should have been invited to the dinner reception held in Gonzales on Jan. 25 to welcome Dr. Elsa Murano as the new Vice Chancellor and Dean of Texas A&M University (TAMU) Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The dinner reception was held at the American Legion Hall and hosted by Dr. Charles Graham of Graham Land and Cattle Company, along with sponsors: TAMU College of Agricultural Development Council; Beefmaster Breeders United, Mike and Jane Davis; American Breeds Coalition; President Eddie Blazek, International Brangus Breeders Assoc.; James Grimm and Texas Poultry Federation. Wendell and Debbie Shronk and Nolan and Ruth Ryan also served at sponsors.

Speaking to a crowd of over 250 attendees, including congressmen and livestock show directors from Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, Murano gave a short presentation to introduce herself to the audience. Although she has only been in her new position for three weeks, she was at TAMU in 1995, before a four-year venture in Washington, D.C. to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"I may be short, but I used to be known in Washington as the 'Mighty Mouse,'" laughed Murano, addressing her small stature. "I took the job (as USDA's under secretary for food safety) to get results ... not for the title!"

Born in Cuba, Murano said she arrived in the United States at an early age and lived in several states before coming to Texas. During her tenure at different positions, she said she "always wondered about the Texan pride" that seemed to follow each Texan she met. Once arriving in Texas, she said she understood.

"I'm here to do the best job I can for agriculture and Texas," she noted, adding that she just wants "to accomplish good things and be excellent."

To Murano, that means following the mission of a land-grant university, such as TAMU. This means teaching others and striving to be the best, she added. She mentioned the agents with Texas Cooperative Extension a number of times, and the importance of their positions to Texans. As TAMU develops specific goals and objectives, Murano said it will be important to hear from the public, so they will know how to serve Texas, better.

Murano expressed an invitation for private citizens and/or organizations to get in touch with her, if they have suggestions that might assist producers.

"I will have an open-door administration," she noted. "Everything from farm to table."

She noted that the staff and co-workers at TAMU are "great people," and she plans to "just let them do their jobs."

While Murano stated that all should reflect on past accomplishments, we all need to "look ahead" to the future and changes that are and will be happening in the future. She believes that TAMU will not be left behind, but will continue to excel in research, teaching and Extension service.