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In December 2025, Peter G. McCornick, Ph.D. will step down from his role of executive director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and retire from the University of Nebraska after nearly a decade of leading the institute. DWFI extends its deepest gratitude for McCornick’s exceptional leadership and dedication. His visionary guidance has been instrumental in advancing our mission and his tenure has been marked by significant growth, expanded global reach, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring a water- and food-secure world.
Since joining DWFI, Dr. McCornick’s visionary leadership has propelled the Institute to new heights. Under his guidance, DWFI has solidified its position as a global thought leader in sustainable water management for agriculture. Key accomplishments and milestones during his impactful decade include:
- Strategic future planning: Dr. McCornick led DWFI through a comprehensive strategic planning process, setting the course for future work. This collaborative process resulted in a refreshed 5-year strategic framework, reinforcing DWFI’s commitment to interdisciplinary research, impactful outreach, and cultivating the next generation of water and food security leaders. This deliberate planning ensures the Institute remains at the forefront of addressing critical global challenges, leveraging Nebraska's unique strengths to drive innovative and sustainable solutions for a water- and food-secure world.
- Global Collaborations and Partnerships: A cornerstone of Dr. McCornick's legacy is the cultivation of robust international partnerships. His leadership fostered deeper ties with organizations like the World Water Council, the Nature Conservancy and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). He also played a foundational role in the FAO Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG), serving on its steering committee since its inception.
- Expanded Research Footprint: Dr. McCornick championed the expansion of DWFI's research portfolio, leading to advancements in the areas of high-productivity commercial agriculture, smallholder agricultural water management, and the intricate connections between environmental and human health in agricultural systems. This includes the continued growth of the Parallel 41 Flux Tower Network and vital projects like DAWN, which provides essential tools for efficient water and nutrient management in the U.S. Corn Belt. Dr. McCornick also emphasized the critical importance of supporting smallholder farmers. His support led to significant initiatives, including a USAID-funded Feed the Future Lab led by the institute and a recent $3.5 million Gates Foundation grant to expand "Irrigation as a Service" in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Elevated Global Engagement: The Institute's global presence and influence have surged under Dr. McCornick. DWFI's active participation in prestigious international forums such as World Water Week, the Africa Food Systems Forum, the World Meteorological Organization's Drought Resilience +10 Conference, and the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue underscores his dedication to driving global dialogue and solutions for water and food security.
- Cultivating Future Leaders: Beyond research and partnerships, Dr. McCornick has been deeply committed to education and capacity building. His consistent support for DWFI-supported students and Faculty Fellows are testaments to his dedication to nurturing the next generation of water and food security experts.
As Dr. McCornick embarks on his retirement, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute extends its profound gratitude for his exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication. His visionary guidance has left an indelible mark, shaping the Institute into a leading force in the pursuit of a water and food secure world. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors, confident that his contributions will have a lasting impact for generations to come.