June 6, 2008

Search under way for Purdue Agriculture dean

Willie Reed will chair the 17-member committee charged with finding a successor to Randy Woodson, the former Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture and now Purdue's provost.

"Because we have a close and complementary relationship with the College of Agriculture, I'm very pleased to be asked to lead the effort to find its new dean," Reed said. "Purdue Agriculture has an international reputation for quality, and the search should identify a high-caliber applicant pool."

The dean of Purdue Agriculture oversees educational, research, outreach and regulatory functions. In addition to leading the College of Agriculture, the post also is responsible for Purdue Extension, a statewide outreach program with offices in every Indiana county. Other entities in Purdue Agriculture include the state's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, the Office of the Indiana State Chemist, commodity regulatory services such as the Indiana State Egg Board, and market development programs for the state's wine grape, mint and turkey growers.

"The College of Agriculture at Purdue enjoys a rich tradition of excellence in discovery, learning and engagement," Woodson said. "As a leading program in the United States, this position will be attractive to a diverse and highly-qualified slate of candidates."

Woodson said the target is to name a new dean before the end of the year. Jay Akridge, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics and director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business, is currently serving as interim dean.

Others on the search committee include:

* Layi Adeola, professor of animal sciences;

* John Baugh, director of Agricultural Services and Regulations;

* James Forney, professor of biochemistry;

* Gary Geswein, president of the Agricultural Alumni Association;

* Catherine Hill, associate professor of entomology;

* Matthew Holt, professor of agricultural economics;

* Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer, associate dean and director of International Programs in Agriculture;

* Jim Luzar, county Extension director and agricultural and natural resources educator, Purdue Extension, Montgomery County;

* Dinah McClure, communications specialist, Office of the Dean of Agriculture;

* Tesfaye Mengiste, associate professor of botany and plant pathology;

* Angus Murphy, professor of horticulture and landscape architecture;

* Suzanne Nielsen, professor and head of the Department of Food Science;

* Kathryn Orvis, associate professor in youth development and agricultural education;

* Linda Prokopy, assistant professor of forestry and natural resources;

* Jenna Rickus, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering; and

Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, forbes@purdue.edu

Sources: Willie Reed, (765) 494-7608, wreed@purdue.edu

Randy Woodson, (765) 494-9709, woodson@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

To the News Service home page