Dr. Cyril Clarke was appointed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board to represent the interests of American Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. The Board was established by Congress in the 1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act. The Board provides advice and consultation to the Secretary of Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on long- and short-term national policies and priorities relating to agricultural research, extension, education, and economics. The appointment is for a three-year term effective until September 30, 2013.