Dr. Alan E. Baquet is the Head of the University of Nebraska's Department of Agricultural Economics and the Director of the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI). He formerly served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for the UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Communities, families and agriculture are interdependent and the future of rural Nebraska will be determined by how we build on the strengths of each. The Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI), an interdisciplinary research and extension center, uses a holistic approach to development that focuses on the economic and social interdependence of agriculture, communities and families.

CARI is the focal point within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for communities and individuals to obtain information and program support needed to enhance their economic and social well-being. Made up of a team of professionals dedicated to collaborative efforts, CARI has developed some of the most community-driven and impact-oriented programs focusing on rural viability.