University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food and Life Sciences’ Post

Jeff Edwards was named dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and senior associate vice president for academic programs of the Division of Agriculture on Oct. 25, effective Jan. 1, 2024, in a joint appointment by U of A Provost Terry Martin and U of A System Vice President for Agriculture Deacue Fields. "I'm so pleased Dr. Jeff Edwards will lead both Bumpers College and serve the Division of Agriculture in these new roles," Fields said. "As a former dean of Bumpers College and in my current position, I have a unique perspective on the specific qualities the dean should possess to aid in the college's overall success. Dr. Edwards has demonstrated these qualities, and he has a great vision for integrating functions of the land-grant mission, which will be a tremendous asset to the University of Arkansas and the UA System Division of Agriculture." As the dean of Bumpers College, Edwards will provide leadership and oversee the college's academic and research enterprises, student recruitment and operations. As senior associate vice president, Edwards will help address the many challenges and opportunities faced by agricultural and rural communities in the state. Edwards will also help connect academic activities between the Fayetteville campus with the U of A System's Division of Agriculture. "I'm honored to be named the dean of Bumpers College and appointed as a senior associate vice president with the Division of Agriculture," Edwards said. "Since earning my doctorate at the U of A, I have viewed Arkansas as my home. I'm glad I returned to Bumpers College as a department head about a year ago, and I'm grateful for this new opportunity to serve as the dean. I look forward to leading the college and raising its profile on both the national and international stage." Edwards joined the U of A in 2022 as head of the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, which includes about 80 faculty and staff members, offers two undergraduate degree programs as well as M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, serving approximately 240 students. As head of the department, Edwards was instrumental in establishing a formal mentoring program for assistant professors, implementing regular internal communications within the department and securing funding for two state-of-the-art growth chambers. Prior to his current role at the U of A, Edwards spent 18 years at Oklahoma State University. He started as an assistant professor and small grains extension specialist in 2004 and attained the rank of full professor in 2012. From 2015 to 2022, he served as head of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at OSU. https://t.ly/kQ_Dm #AgFoodLife Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station University of Arkansas University of Arkansas System Cooperative Extension Service The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, & Soil Science Society of America