Title
Department Head/ProfessorOffice Building
Raven Precision Agriculture CenterOffice
140Mailing Address
Raven Precision Ag Building 140Agronomy, Horticulture & Plant Science-Box 2100A
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
Biography
As head of the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science, I provide the vision, leadership and strategic direction and oversight in teaching, research and extension. I advocate for faculty, staff and leadership throughout the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. I lead the recruitment, development and retention of faculty and staff as well as the growth of academic, research and outreach programs. I foster relations with industry, government and alumni for the benefit of the university and its programs. I also secure and nurture existing public/private partnerships in the pursuit of leveraging resources. I am responsible for representing the department throughout South Dakota, the region and nationally. Within the department, I foster an environment of collaboration and success through positive mentoring and thoughtful leadership.Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, 1991.Master of Science in Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1986.
Bachelor of Science in Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1982.
Academic Interests
Academic and Organizational LeadershipSustainable Agriculture Production
Soybean and Corn Production
Academic Responsibilities
PS119 - Freshman SeminarAwards and Honors
Professional awards and recognition• Experiment Station Excellence in Multistate Research Award. 2012. Team award given to NCERA 208 (Response to Emerging Threat: Soybean Rust). Awarded by State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Denver, CO.
• Entomology Education Project Award. 2012. Team award for the Field Crops Insects Management Compendium. Bestowed by the Entomological Society of America.
• Entomology Education Project Award. 2012. Team award for the Soybean Aphid Management Field Guide, 2nd Edition. Bestowed by the Entomological Society of America.
• International IPM Award of Excellence. 2012. Team award for Soybean Rust-Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (PIPE). Bestowed by the Entomological Society of America, at the 7th International IPM Symposium, Memphis, TN.
• Integrated Pest Management Team Award. 2009. Bestowed by the Entomological Foundation, Lanham, MD for NCSRP’s role in research and grower education of the soybean aphid.
• Experiment Station Excellence in Multistate Research Award. 2009. Team award given to S-1039 (Biology, Impact and Management of Soybean Insect Pests in Soybean Production Systems). Awarded by State Agricultural Experiment Stations Directors.
• Best Extension Publication. 2009. Soybean Aphid Management Field Guide. Bestowed by the Entomological Society of America, North Central Division.
Personal awards and recognition
• Recognition for leadership in soybean research that resulted in increased profitability to Minnesota soybean farmers. 2013. Recognized by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council & the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
• Henry A. Wallace Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Agriculture in Writing, Teaching, Research & Leadership. 2009. Bestowed by the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Grants
Total Competitive Grand Funding: $46,621,181Professional Memberships
• American Society of Agronomy - Member for 25 years• American Phytopathology Society
• Entomological Society of America
• Crop Science Society of America - Member for 30 years
• Weed Science Society of America - Member for 25 years
Work Experience
The department is one of the premier departments within the university, it consistently is the top award winner within the college. Our annual research awards have been ranging from $4.5 to $8.7 million from state, regional, national and federal competitions. The department has two distinguished professors, 19 professors, six associate professors and 12 assistant professors. Four lecturers (Ph.D.) and one instructor (M.S.) solidify our teaching program. In addition, two Extension Associates and nine field specialists (eight M.S. & three Ph.D.) support the department’s Extension and outreach needs. Leadership of the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association (Ph.D.) and the Foundation Seed Stock Division are also in the department. The department trains approximately 64 graduate students and 284 undergraduate students, annually. We have 22 staff positions that keep everything moving forward.Department(s)
Image for Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science
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College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences