Celebrating Roger McLenaghen’s 50 Years at Lincoln University

Fresh out of Lincoln High School, where he found Year 13 (Seventh Form) wasn’t for him, he found his calling in soil science, a field that would define his professional life for the next five decades.

Roger's initial role involved technical work, taking and analysing soil samples using wet chemistry techniques. This was long before the advent of the advanced analytical instruments we have today. "I was over-the-moon with the job,” Roger recalls, "I started on $3000 a year and so I thought I was rich coming straight out of school."

While working, Roger attended Christchurch Polytech part-time, earning a New Zealand Certificate in Science and Chemistry. His contract at Lincoln College was renewed, allowing him to take undergraduate soil courses and eventually enrol in a postgraduate diploma. Despite lacking a degree, Roger's dedication and hard work ethic earned him a tutor position, a role he has grown into over the years with the support of mentors like Keith Cameron and Phil Tonkin.

Throughout his 50 years at Lincoln, Roger has seen and contributed to significant changes. "When we moved into the Burns Wing out of McCaskill in 1976, we thought it was amazing with all the brand new labs and equipment," he recalls. "Now Burns is in rubble and Waimarie has a whole new array of instruments to use. Things like our flow injection analysers and ICPs – to me, they are like Star Trek in comparison."

His passion for research remains as strong as ever. Alongside his teaching, he is currently exploring carbon sequestration, a potential game-changer for the industry. His innovative approach and open mind keep him notably engaged and excited about his work.

“I actually really enjoyed COVID because it made a lot of us use new technology and translate our teaching online,” he explains. “Surprisingly, I picked it all up quite well and have really enjoyed recording videos and playing around with the options to make things more interactive for the students.”

Roger's connection with the students is what he treasures most. "Students are by far the greatest. They are always friendly, always respectful to me, and I have no issues with them." His commitment to students is evident; he shares his mobile number each year, making himself available nine hours a day, seven days a week.

Some students even found a way to contact him at any hour of the night. “One woman texted me at 2 am saying she knew I’d be up because the Lincoln fire siren had gone off!” he says. “Sure enough, I was in the middle of fighting a house fire, so I had to get back to her.”

He admits a few funny incidents occurred juggling his work at Lincoln and his role with the local brigade. "I used to bike to work, so when the siren went off, I’d only have a couple of minutes to get to the station. So, I used to run out on the road and stop the first car that came past,” he recalls. “I remember flagging down a flash limousine and jumping in the front seat. The guy looked really worried because it turns out the European Commissioner for Agriculture was in the back seat, and he was meant to be protecting him. Lucky for me, colleague Warwick Scott was in the back seat with him and said, 'Don't worry about it, it's just Rog.'”

Many things come to mind for him when asked what's kept him around this long. "The connections I’ve made have been huge, from all the support my colleagues have provided me to being recognised outside of campus by alumni at events like the recent Young Farmers competition, it’s the best,” he says. “I’ve seen a lot of staff stay here for a long time, and I think it’s a good indication of the support we get from Lincoln University,” he explains. “People are getting the support, research equipment, and contracts they need to build their careers, which I think is super important.”

He continues, “To me, soil science underpins just about everything in terms of food production, greenhouse gas emissions, and nitrate leaching, which is all very important and topical,” he says. “What more can you want as a career, to get excited about that?!”

Roger's dedication and contributions have not gone unnoticed. 

Bruce McKenzie, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has known Roger for 42 of his 50 years at Lincoln University and reflects on his impact. “His input into our diploma of soil science teaching has been highly successful, and he was a real trailblazer in organising online laboratory sessions during COVID,” Bruce shares. “On a personal level, he’s provided me with helpful advice on the new technology for teaching and overall has had a huge impact on Lincoln. It’s been a pleasure working with him over the 40 years I have been on staff.”

Carol Smith, Associate Professor and Head of the Department for Soil and Physical Sciences, shares her thoughts, which are in entirety as she says, “I can’t give just a sentence to reflect the multitude of Roger's time and impact at Lincoln.”

“To many generations of students and colleagues, Roger is, quite simply a legend. He brings a huge amount of mana to his role at Lincoln University. His involvement with not just teaching soil science but also the time he invests in outreach and extension activities (Young Farmers, Childrens University) is a reflection of his passion. A passion for not only the discipline of soil science but also his enthusiasm for mentoring and teaching the next generation of agricultural scientists, especially our Diploma students. Roger is also passionate about how he teaches; he was an early adopter of using new technology in both course design and enhancement. His innovative teaching style in the laboratory and the field is memorable. Outside of work, Roger has had an impact in the local community through tennis and most significantly, the  Lincoln Fire Brigade. Thank you Roger for your dedication of service to the department, the University, and to the discipline of soil science.” 

Roger's legacy at Lincoln University is one of passion, innovation, and unwavering commitment to students and research. As he celebrates 50 years, he remains a beloved figure, recognised and respected by all who have had the privilege to know him.

The question of his retirement? Well, he’s chatted to his doctor, who advises him that as long as he enjoys what he's doing, there's no particular need to retire. Roger muses, "I could, but then I think, what do I do? Maybe come back and do it for nothing."

Head over to our post on Lincoln University’s social media pages to help congratulate and share your thoughts with Roger on his incredible achievement.