GOVERNANCE
The NAAAN is comprised of nine Steering Committee members, Senior Staff, and a Secretariat hosted by the Colorado State University System office located in Denver, Colorado.
STEERING COMMITTEE
The NAAAN Steering Committee has nine members: one ex officio and two committee members from each country — Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. NAAAN ex officios include the Ministers or Secretaries of Agriculture across the three counties. The Steering Committee provides strategic guidance to NAAAN Secretariat and programming activities.
CANADA
MEXICO
SECRETARY VICTOR VILLALOBOS (EX OFFICIO)
Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development
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CARLOS VAZQUEZ OCHOA
Minister Counselor, Agricultural Office, Embassy of Mexico to the United States
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LOURDES CRUZ TRINIDAD
General Coordinator of International Affairs, Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development
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UNITED STATES
SECRETARY TOM VILSACK (EX OFFICIO)
Secretary of Agriculture
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DOUGLAS STEELE, PH.D.
Vice President Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
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CATHIE WOTEKI, PH.D.
Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University
Visiting Distinguished Institute Professor, Biocomplexity Institute, University of Virginia
President, Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation
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TONY FRANK, PH.D.
Chancellor, Colorado State University System (host institution)
Chair of the NAAAN Steering Committee
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SENIOR STAFF
NAAAN senior staff report to the institutions, or serve directly under the Ministers and Secretaries of Agriculture across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. The senior staff’s work with NAAAN builds and maintains mutually beneficial relationships, facilitates communications, and coordinates key activities in agricultural policies and programs for their countries.
WALLACE IP (CANADA)
Vice-consul and Trade Commissioner (Agriculture), Consulate General of Canada, Denver, Colo.
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MARIE-PIER SABOURIN (CANADA)
Trade Policy Analyst, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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LETICIA ALBARRAN (MEXICO)
Head of Department of Communication and Interpretation, General Coordination of International Affairs of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development
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LUIS MARTÍNEZ SENTÍES (MEXICO)
Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, Embassy of Mexico to the United States
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SECRETARIAT
The NAAAN Secretariat, established in 2019, provides administrative guidance and is hosted by the Colorado State University System office located in Denver, Colorado.
KERRI WRIGHT PLATAIS (U.S.)
Special Advisor to the Chancellor and Director of International Agriculture, CSU Spur
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DAVID NIELSON (U.S.)
Senior Advisor to the NAAAN
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LAUREN WELLER (U.S.)
Assistant Director of International Agriculture, CSU Spur
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REBECCA POPARA (U.S.)
Executive Assistant to International Agriculture, CSU Spur
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