As Chair of the Department of Agronomy, I provide leadership and direction to the department in the areas of education, research, and extension. I advocate for and set priorities for the academic and research portfolio of the department through shared governance with the faculty. In cooperation with Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, I also advocate for and set priorities for extension and outreach in crops, soils, and climatology. I have responsibility for representing the department as I interact with the public in Iowa and at the national and international level. I am responsible for understanding and being able to articulate the broad education, research, and extension capabilities of each of the faculty in the department. I oversee the departmental budget, evaluate faculty, set salaries, hire faculty, and provide faculty, staff, and students with the support they need to be successful. I am also responsible for providing leadership in the expenditure of earnings from our endowments, which total around $2.5 million per year.
Education:
B.S., University of Illinois, 1980, Agronomy
M.S., University of Illinois, 1982, Agronomy
Ph.D., Iowa State University, 1985, Plant Breeding
