Darin Joos named a 2025 Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award recipient

Darin Joos, Crop Sciences Research Agronomist, has been named a 2025 Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award recipient.

Joos began his Illinois career in 1994 as a graduate student and went on to lead the state’s crop variety testing program, which evaluated commercial varieties of corn, wheat, and soybean at 14 sites across Illinois. After nearly three decades in that role, he now manages the Crop Sciences Research and Education Center farms in Champaign.

In this position, Joos supports faculty, researchers, graduate students, and industry representatives with their field research needs. He oversees equipment and materials, maintains facilities, and ensures the farm is a reliable place to conduct research. His leadership has created a culture of communication and collaboration that has improved service to faculty and strengthened staff morale.

In his CSEA podcast episode, Joos reflected on what he enjoys most about his role, saying: “Coming from the farm background that I did, I really enjoy running the equipment. That’s the great part about this job — it’s not just a desk job. I get to be out there with the guys, running equipment, and having fun doing it.” 

 
Nominations for the 2026 Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Awards will open soon. These awards highlight staff members who make a lasting impact at Illinois. Please watch for details on how to submit a nomination. For more information on this award, visit the Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award website.