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| Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences VISION eXtra is e-mailed weekly to faculty and staff of Bumpers College and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Agriculture. This service is primarily for timely announcement of news and events for the AAES and Bumpers College. Submit items to hmedders@uark.edu. You may also wish to submit items to headline@uark.edu for posting on "UA Daily Headlines" for campus-wide distribution. |
April 6, 2009 |
1. Former ARS national program leader to head Plant Pathology
2. HESC 'Cooking for Good Health' demonstration focuses on cancer prevention - Tuesday
3. Seniors invited to Mexican Fiesta dinner with alumni - Wednesday
4. Faculty photos at Union - Tuesday and Wednesday
5. Extension district directors to interview graduating students - April 15
6. 'Lunch for a Buck' with state FFA members - April 17
7. Horticulture Club Plant Sale - April 18
8. Career Fair and Résumé Review - April 17
9. Apparel studies and Anne Kittrell Gallery host fashion exhibit - April 20
10. Spring, summer field days scheduled
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1. Former ARS national program leader to head Plant Pathology
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Richard Bennett |
Richard "Rick" Bennett joined the Bumpers College and Division of Agriculture faculty March 30 as professor and head of the Department of Plant Pathology. For the past seven years he was national program leader for plant health in the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sung Lim retired in August 2008 after 17 years as department head.
Bennett was based at Beltsville, Md., and provided leadership for a national ARS plant health program of more than 65 research projects, 147 scientists and an annual budget of over $68 million. Previous assignments during his 21 years with USDA-ARS included international program leader, director of the office of international programs, international program coordinator, plant health advisor for USAID, and research associate for the Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit.
The move to an academic position "is an opportunity to do something I've always wanted to do," Bennett said. "I have great respect for USDA; and they have been very supportive of this career change. The department head position and the opportunity presented itself at the right time."
Bennett grew up on a small farm in western Maryland where his family raised dairy cattle, pigs and chickens. They grew corn as silage for the livestock and wheat for grain and straw. He has a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in forest pathology, both from Colorado State University, and a doctorate in plant pathology from West Virginia University. He and his wife, Melissa, have a seven-year-old son, and twin five-year-old daughters.
Bennett said he sees his primary responsibilities as being a mentor, advocate and facilitator to help faculty, staff and students create a challenging and open environment.
"It gives me great satisfaction mentoring young faculty, students and researchers," Bennett said. "Being in an academic department gives me the opportunity to help others in teaching, research or extension efforts."
A strong believer in strategic planning, Bennett foresees a bright future for the department. He plans to seek input from staff and faculty to examine the department's mission and strategic focus, and use the results to assess current strengths and determine future priorities.
"We're in a period for some major scientific breakthroughs," he said. "The Department is positioned well thanks to Dr. Lim and we need to be ready to take advantage of opportunities. We have a great blend of young and senior faculty with new skill sets in applied and basic sciences."
"My professional goal is to build a diverse, leading-edge program in interdisciplinary fields of plant pathology, plant ecology, plant disease resistance, biological and cultural strategies for sustainable disease management, cellular/molecular pathology, and pathogen-vector relationships."
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2. HESC 'Cooking for Good Health' demonstration focuses on cancer prevention - Tuesday
Human Resources is partnering with the School of Human and Environmental Sciences to provide a series of nutrition education sessions to the campus community. Students in the dietetics program, under the direction of associate professor Marjorie Fitch-Hilgenberg, will make presentations covering healthy food choices and lifestyle behaviors that may prevent or manage specific health conditions. These presentations are class projects for the students and are open to all faculty and staff. A $5 contribution per session to offset expenses will be appreciated.
Each presentation will begin at 4 p.m. and will last approximately one hour. Participants will be invited to sample the food items prepared as part of the demonstrations. All presentations will be held in the Home Economics building, room 109. Seating is limited so advance registration is required. Please register online at http://hr.uark.edu/Training/TrainingCalendar.asp or by calling 575-4432.
The program includes:
March 31: Diabetes - A lifestyle approach
April 7: Cancer: Can we prevent cancer with diet? Plus: Cooking for someone in treatment - helpful tips for the care giver.
April 14: Hypertension - DASH for good health
April 21: Hypertension - a lifestyle approach to controlling BP
April 28: Weight Management for those over 50
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3. Seniors invited to Mexican Fiesta dinner with alumni - Wednesday
Bumpers College seniors are invited to the 2009 Senior Celebration dinner on Wednesday, April 8, hosted by the DBCAFLS Alumni Society at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. A Mexican Fiesta buffet will be served starting at 5 p.m. to accommodate those planning to attend the Razorback baseball game. The program at 5:30 p.m. will include a number of door prizes donated by alumni and a gift for all seniors. RSVP by 5 p.m. Tuesday to Trina Hollman by e-mail at tfholman@uark.edu or call 575-2179.
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4. Faculty photos at Union - Tuesday and Wednesday
University Relations will be taking photos of faculty from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in room 503 of the Arkansas Union. Coffee and snacks will be provided. If you are a faculty member who has not had a photograph taken within the past two years please stop by and have your photograph taken. For more information please call 575-3033.
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5. Extension district directors to interview graduating students - April 15
District directors with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service will be on the Fayetteville campus to interview graduating seniors and grad students for positions with the Extension Service April 15 in the AEED conference room. Sign up for a 30-minute interview in AGRI 205 or by calling Susan Dorough at 575-2035. Interview times will be on a first-come, first-served basis. They will be interviewing for a range of Extension Service positions.
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6. 'Lunch for a Buck' with state FFA members - April 17
Bumpers College will host the annual state FFA Career Development Event on Friday, April 17. Faculty, students and staff are invited to meet the participants and their advisers during "Lunch for a Buck" at Agri Park from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Most academic departments will participate in events, which are coordinated by Freddie Scott, AEED, in cooperation with state FFA leaders, other faculty and staff members and student volunteers.
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7. Horticulture Club Plant Sale - April 18
The Horticulture Club's annual Plant Sale is set for April 18 from 7 a.m. to noon at the Horticulture greenhouses at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Go east on Cassatt Street from Garland Avenue, 1.5 miles north of campus.
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8. Career Fair and Résumé Review - April 17
A Career Fair for students is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 17, on the 4th floor of the Arkansas Union. It will include a résumé review, and you are invited to play Wii in the Connections Lounge while the UA Career Center reviews your résumé.
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9. Apparel studies and Anne Kittrell Gallery host fashion exhibit - April 20
The apparel studies program in the School of Human Environmental Sciences and the Anne Kittrell Gallery, Arkansas Union, are hosting an exhibit of clothing designed by University of Arkansas students. All students are invited to submit designs for an exhibit that will begin April 20. Completed garments are due April 10. For details visit http://www.myspace.com/universityprograms or the University Programs Facebook page, or e-mail upart@uark.edu.
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10. Spring, summer field days scheduled
Division of Agriculture field days have been scheduled through the summer. The current schedule is online at http://aaes.uark.edu/fielddays_09.html.
AAES and Bumpers College Web sites:
http://aaes.uark.edu/
http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/