There\u2019s no one who knows the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative quite like Geoff Bock. Hired in 2016 as its first employee, Bock has seen it grow from a seed of an idea into a world-class interdisciplinary research enterprise involving 76 affiliated faculty members from eight NC State University colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bock\u2019s role has evolved over the years as the initiative has taken shape. At first, he focused on managing the strategic planning and task forces that crafted its mission, vision and goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before and during construction of NC State University\u2019s Plant Sciences Building, he was one of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences\u2019 primary liaisons for ensuring that it would meet those goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And since the building\u2019s opening in 2022, Bock has served as the N.C. PSI\u2019s director of operations, with day-to-day oversight of \u201ceverything from research to maintenance to events, as well as managing the implementation of PSI programmatic activities, in terms of budgeting, logistics and planning,\u201d Bock explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of all his duties, Bock says one of the most satisfying is leading tours of the building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve long since lost count, but I have given hundreds of tours of the building over the years,\u201d he says. \u201cI love the opportunity to interact with visitors, students, and stakeholders and tell them about the great work being done at the N.C. PSI.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What drew you to NC State and the plant sciences?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

NC State is what drew me to move to North Carolina over 17 years ago from Maryland, where I am from originally. I have two graduate degrees from NC State \u2013 one from CALS\u2019 Master\u2019s of Microbial Biotechnology program and a master\u2019s of business administration from the Poole College of Management \u2013 so I was already a proud member of the Pack when I learned of the exciting opportunity with the N.C. PSI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My background and career had up to that point been more in the biotech sector, so the N.C. PSI was my first foray into agriculture and the plant sciences. But I was initially drawn to the N.C. PSI because I saw it as a unique opportunity to be part of a new and ambitious endeavor at NC State that would deliver significant benefits and impact to our university, our state and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does what you do ultimately impact people and agriculture in North Carolina?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s my goal for not just myself but for our broader N.C. PSI team that we support researchers, students and Extension agents so that they are more easily enabled and equipped to do their great and impactful work, whether it\u2019s in the building or out in the field, delivering new tools and technologies into the hands of our agricultural stakeholders around the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I\u2019d like to believe that there\u2019s also impact in more subtle and everyday interactions; perhaps a student on one of my building tours gets inspired to work in the N.C. PSI or in agriculture in general. Wouldn\u2019t that be cool?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does what is being done at PSI motivate you personally and professionally?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The N.C. PSI is a true game changer for NC State, CALS and the agriculture and plant sciences community in North Carolina, delivering significant benefits to growers and establishing the university and the region as a global leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To have had a hand in bringing this grand vision to reality is extremely humbling to me, and I am highly motivated and energized every day to do my part to ensure its continued growth and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am also constantly inspired by the people within the PSI \u2013 we refer to them as our \u201cPlant Pack.\u201d Be it our N.C. PSI-affiliated faculty and their students, our incredible staff or too many others to name, they are some of the most brilliant, passionate and dedicated people I have come across in my career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my book, they are all superheroes who are quite literally each doing their part in saving the world. I feel immensely grateful and fortunate that I get to work with such an awesome community of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n