Mark your calendars for March 17, 2026! Please join us for a special two-part event focused on agricultural trade, presented by the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series (WRDLS). The lecture series is designed to engage students, faculty, industry professionals, and policymakers from across the state and region whose work intersects with agriculture, trade, and international affairs.
We’re excited to announce that this event will feature conversations with:
Keynote Speaker: Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden
Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of AgricultureAlongside Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, Deputy Secretary Vaden leads the Department’s operations and implements policies that support America’s food and farm systems. A native of Union City, Tennessee, Deputy Secretary Vaden brings expertise in agricultural policy, law, and rural development. Previously, he served as a judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade and as General Counsel of the USDA. Throughout Deputy Secretary Vaden’s time as General Counsel, he led successful Supreme Court litigation, advanced regulatory reform, and supported the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and Vanderbilt University. A public servant with strong agricultural roots, Deputy Secretary Vaden is committed to revitalizing rural America and ensuring an abundant, affordable, and safe U.S. food supply.
Ambassador Darci Vetter
Vice Chair for Agriculture, Food, and Trade at Edelman; Former Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeAmbassador Vetter is a global public policy leader working at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and international trade. Throughout her career, she has consistently focused on building more resilient food systems, serving in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Dr. Andrew Muhammad
Professor and Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy, University of Tennessee Institute of AgricultureDr. Muhammad is an expert in international trade and agricultural policy. He assists state and national agricultural decision-makers in evaluating policies and programs related to agricultural commodities, food and nutrition, natural resources, and international trade.
We will announce additional speakers and full agenda details soon! We’re honored to host WRDLS once again, and we hope you’ll join us on Petit Jean Mountain for both days.
About WRDLS
Since its establishment in 1972, the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series (WRDLS) has brought preeminent speakers to University of Arkansas campuses to stimulate public discussion, inspire researchers and students, and provide insight on compelling topics. The lectures are free and open to the public. Most speakers interact with students before their public lecture and mingle with the audience afterward. Some of the past participants in the series include:
- Dr. Cornel West, Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary
- Dr. Donald Berwick, former administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Julian Castro, former San Antonio mayor and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Jon Meacham, best-selling author and historian
- Robert Menchu, Nobel Peace Laureate
- Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
- Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History
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