The University of Nebraska has initiated a global search for the next Executive Director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI). After nearly a decade leading DWFI, Peter McCornick announced he will step down as executive director in August 2025 with plans to transition to a full-time faculty role in UNL’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering.
Established in 2010 through a landmark $50 million gift from the Robert B. Daugherty Charitable Foundation, DWFI was founded with a clear mission: to address the global challenge of achieving food security with less pressure on water resources through improved management of water in agricultural and food systems. Mr. Daugherty, founder of Valmont Industries, was deeply committed to the efficient and sustainable use of water in agriculture to feed a growing world population, a legacy the Institute continues to uphold.