April 26, 2005
Purdue Agriculture names forestry and natural resources head
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Robert Swihart is the new head of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University.
Swihart has been interim head since last summer for the department, which is part of the College of Agriculture.
"I am eager to help the department move forward," Swihart said. "We've made tremendous advances. We have strong, nationally recognized faculty, and we will build on those strengths in the coming years."
The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has programs in forest ecology and management, genetics, wildlife science, wood products and hardwood tree improvement, fisheries and aquatic science, and natural resource planning and policy.
"Rob Swihart is an outstanding scholar, educator and leader," said Randy Woodson, dean of Purdue Agriculture. "I'm excited about the future of the department and working with Rob to move it to a leading position in forestry and natural resources worldwide."
The department's Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, a federal, state, industry and university collaboration, is a model for research in forest biotechnology.
"This will be the choice for more and more universities," Swihart said. "These public and private partnerships allow us to achieve more than we could alone."
One challenge Swihart faced while interim department head was the loss of the aquaculture facility in November due to an accidental fire.
"I've been thrilled with the faculty and staff response," he said. "We've banded together and we're moving forward. We intend to have a new and improved facility by year's end."
Swihart also points out the interdisciplinary nature of the department, which is helping to solve tough societal problems.
"We apply new technologies to old industries, such as in the case of advanced manufacturing and its applications to wood products," he said. "We also study climate change and land use - issues vital to our welfare."
The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has 29 faculty members. The program has 262 undergraduate students and 70 graduate students.
Swihart came to Purdue in 1991 as an assistant professor of forestry and natural resources. His research has studied the consequences of land-use changes on biodiversity and species conservation.
He is a Purdue Faculty Scholar, an honor that recognizes outstanding faculty who are on an accelerated path for academic distinction. He has twice received the outstanding teacher award in the forestry and natural resources department.
Swihart earned his bachelor's degree from Purdue in 1979. He earned his master's degree from Minnesota and his doctoral degree from the University of Kansas.
Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722; forbes@purdue.edu
Sources: Randy Woodson, (765) 494-8392
Robert Swihart, (765) 494-3590
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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