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Published on 07/29/04

Committee seeks new UGA ag dean, director

By Larry Dendy
University of Georgia

A 23-member committee has been formed to conduct a national search for the next dean and director of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Arnett Mace, UGA senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, appointed the committee to help choose a successor to Gale Buchanan, who will step down as dean Dec. 31 and retire from the university next April.

George Benson, dean of the UGA Terry College of Business, will chair the committee. The group includes faculty, staff, a student and several state agricultural leaders.

Mace said the committee will develop a job description for the position, screen and interview candidates and recommend to him an unranked list of three to five candidates.

The CAES was founded in 1859 and is the second-oldest of the 14 UGA schools and colleges. The college offers more than 20 areas of study through 11 departments. It operates three agricultural experiment stations, four extension educational centers and the Rural Development Center in Tifton.

The Cooperative Extension Service, which has agents in 157 of Georgia’s 159 counties and operates the 4-H program, is also part of the college.

“Agriculture is a dominant economic force in Georgia,” Mace said. “The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences helps strengthen this industry through cutting-edge research, instruction and outreach that impacts every aspect of food and fiber production. We expect to attract many highly qualified candidates for one of the premier positions in agricultural education in the country.”

Besides Benson, committee members are:

  • Mona Adams, Cooperative Extension Service agent in Richmond County.
  • Elizabeth Andress, professor of family and consumer sciences in the extension service.
  • John Beasley, professor of crop and soil sciences with the extension service in Tifton.
  • Gary Black, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council.
  • James Daniels, assistant professor of agricultural economics.
  • Robert Dickey, farmer in Musella who chairs the college’s advisory committee.
  • Wayne Dollar, president of the Georgia Farm Bureau.
  • Vivian Fisher, associate vice president for public service and outreach at UGA.
  • Tim Flanders, extension service coordinator in Grady County.
  • Tommy Irvin, Georgia commissioner of agriculture.
  • Andy Keeler, associate professor of agricultural economics.
  • William Kisaalita, professor of engineering.
  • Mike Lacy, head of the poultry science department.
  • Chris Langone, professor of agricultural leadership, education and communication.
  • Craig Lanier, member of the Governor’s Agriculture Advisory Board.
  • Buddy Leger, vice chair-elect of the college’s advisory committee.
  • Larry Morris, professor of forest resources.
  • Mark Rieger, professor of horticulture.
  • Carol Robacker, associate professor of horticulture.
  • Steve Stice, GRA eminent scholar in animal and dairy sciences.
  • Garland Thompson, chairman of the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
  • Matt Wilson, student who is president of the Ag Hill Council.
Mace said he hopes to recommend a new dean to UGA President Michael Adams by Dec. 1.

(Larry Dendy is assistant to the associate vice president for public affairs of the University of Georgia.)

Larry Dendy is assistant to the associate vice president for public affairs of the University of Georgia.

Experts/Sources:
Arnett C. Mace Jr.
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