I served as Senior Executive to John “Jack” McIver, vice president of Research and Economic Development, after I left the interim University of Idaho presidency in the summer of 2009, and worked with him in my role as College of Natural Resources Dean.
Working with McIver has been one of the most rewarding, collaborative and effective experiences of my 40-year career in higher education. He is a solid role model in science leadership and research enterprise management, and he has raised our institution”s stock value and position among institutional peers.
McIver”s vision established UI as a regional and national leader on key societal issues of the 21st century. He led nationally in data management by establishing the UI Northwest Knowledge Network (NKN) – a hub for the curation of interdisciplinary science knowledge and a catalyst for faculty creativity in data-enabled science.
He enabled our university”s broad co-leadership in climate research and outreach by supporting the establishment of Department of Interior NW Climate Science Center, the USDA-sponsored REACCH project and our university”s partnerships with other regional institutions in a variety of research and outreach projects at the climate-water-natural resources-agriculture nexus. We are now known as a leader in interdisciplinary research, inter-institutional partnerships and high impact science applications.
McIver made research support systems more user-friendly and easier for faculty and staff to navigate. This has empowered the entire UI faculty and increased the overall productivity and efficiency of the university”s research enterprise.
McIver has served on many statewide working groups that focus our university”s research on state issues and contribute to the advancement of Idaho”s economy, communities and environment.
Let”s wish Jack and his wife, Martha, best wishes in retirement. Jack is a renaissance man – extremely well read and a life-long learner. His legacy will live on here at UI, in our region and even more broadly, and I”ve no doubt he will continue to think hard about how integrated research and outreach can help to address the issues and challenges in our society.
Steven Daley-Laursen is a professor at the University of Idaho