The IR-4 Project Headquarters team is pleased to announce the induction of Dr. Daniel (Dan) Rossi to the IR-4 Hall of Fame. Rossi was nominated by Executive Director, Jerry Baron, and was approved by the Project Management Committee (PMC) for this award in recognition of his 40 years of dedicated service to IR-4. Baron presented Rossi with this award at the 2025 Spring Project Management Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. (pictured left).
Throughout his career, Rossi performed a variety of vital roles for IR-4. When Baron first joined IR-4 in 1986, Rossi was already serving as Northeast Region Administrative Advisor; he rotated in and out of this role for nearly 35 years. Rossi served as Northeast Region Administrative Advisor for IR-4 while serving as Executive Director for the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NERA). In this role, he was a true friend and advocate for IR-4, making key connections that led to IR-4 research being hosted throughout the region’s 14 states. Rossi’s expertise and calm personality proved invaluable over the years, helping IR-4 weather change and make progress while maintaining its identity and staying true to its specialty crop grower-focused mission.
Rossi was a key player in many decisions that shaped IR-4 into the productive, relevant organization it is today. When the PMC decided IR-4 needed to take a critical eye to modernize operations, Rossi agreed to Chair the Path Forward 2.0 Committee. He led and worked with a stellar team of advisors to assess challenges and opportunities, and then develop sound recommendations to help IR-4 transform for the better.
Across the organization, there is great appreciation for Rossi’s dedication to influencing sound solutions to problems. To many, he was (and still is) a friend and mentor. For approximately forty years, Rossi has been dedicated to serving the public with his duties at Rutgers University, at the Northeast Regional Association of State Experiment Station Directors, and most importantly, through his contributions to the IR-4 Project. On behalf of the entire IR-4 Project, we congratulate Dan Rossi on his entrance into the IR-4 Hall of Fame and thank him for his many contributions to our success!
For more team acknowledgments, visit the IR-4 Awards page.