Correspondent
MADISON
In her address to the more than 100 women attending the recent Women’s Ag Leadership Summit, Molly Jahn, dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison shared her life story and the philosophy that has made her so successful in blazing trails that make it easier for scientists to collaborate and share ideas with each other and with external partners.
She admits she’s learned a lot of tough lessons but as long as the core values remain intact, she, and others facing challenges, can handle them.
She acknowledged that it’s a rough time to be in the dairy business these days but stressed the importance of those core values for survival and endurance.
So what are those core values?
Jahn listed them. “Never compromise your values and integrity. Tell the truth. Think about wisdom. Know how to work hard and be grateful.”
Describing her decision to move her family to Wisconsin to accept the position as dean of CALS she commented, “I took a risk just moving here. We had a farm and we were connected to our community.”
But she said the opportunity presented an exciting challenge that fit with her core values.
“The vision of the college I serve was conceived by President Lincoln. In the middle of strife and danger he recognized the role education can play. It’s the core of a healthy democracy,” she notes.
Jahn, 50, became the first female dean of CALS when she was hired in August 2006.
While it was difficult to uproot her family, she also knew it is important to continually learn and accept challenges. She cautions, “Make sure you don’t go into small boxes. Take the lid off the box and look around.”
She viewed the job at CALS as a good fit as she does with the challenge she now faces working for a year in Washington D.C. with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In her new role, Jahn will serve as deputy undersecretary of research, education and economics, where she will be responsible for leading three units within the USDA.
“I’m very honored to bring the experience I’ve gained as a dean and scientist in the land grant university system to Washington,” she shares, noting that she is not interested in being out in front but partnering and team work is important.
Jahn will begin her new duties Nov. 9. She has been granted a one-year leave of absence from her duties as dean.
Jahn is credited with blazing new trails that make it easier for scientists to collaborate and share ideas with each other and with external partners. As a researcher, she sees her new role as a good fit because “It’s right at the edge of where science goes. It’s an area where science and politics meets.”
Talking about the decisions she has made along the way that led her down new paths she reminded the college students and young businesswomen in the audience, “Try not to second guess things. If a door opens and you decide you’d like to walk through it, don’t question why. Just accept it once you decide to enter.”
She also challenged her audience to continue to learn new and grow. She points out that people block out a lot of ideas because they are overwhelmed with information. “But that doesn’t mean we should let some information in that is outside our own interests,” she concludes.
