FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas professor Lalit Verma, head of the department of biological and agricultural engineering, has been named interim dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. He will also serve as associate vice president for academic programs in the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. His appointment is effective July 1.

Verma will succeed Greg Weidemann, who is leaving the university to take the position of dean and director of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut.

"Lalit Verma has shown what he can accomplish as an academic leader. He helped to build a relatively small department into a vibrant and growing program,” said chancellor-elect G. David Gearhart. “He will bring these same leadership skills to Bumpers College during this interim period. I am grateful to Dr. Verma for accepting this important interim position.”

Verma came to the University of Arkansas in 2000 as head of the biological and agricultural engineering department. He is internationally recognized for his research in rice and forage post-harvest engineering and technology. He holds a patent awarded for the “Process for Parboiling Rice” and led research on “Electrotechnology in Cereal Grains Processing.” These focused on utilizing microwave energy for rice parboiling that enabled rice- and food-processing operations to save more than 30 percent of energy, time and cost.

“Dr. Verma is respected as a researcher and student mentor in both academic and agricultural extension settings. He knows the importance of agriculture to the state of Arkansas, and the importance of the students in Bumpers College to the future of our state,” said interim Provost Bob McMath. “I am confident that his leadership will keep Bumpers College moving forward during this interim period.”

Among his many academic and professional honors, Verma received the President’s Citation from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers in 2000 for his leadership in developing accreditation criteria for educational programs that involve engineering in agricultural, food and biological systems. He was named Engineer of the Year for the Louisiana section of the A.S.A.E. in 2001, and Outstanding Engineer for the Arkansas section in 2003. He was named president of the Institute of Biological Engineering in 2004.

“Dr. Verma has provided outstanding leadership in his department to match his contributions to his profession. We look forward to working with him in his new role,” said Milo Shult, university system vice president for agriculture.

“I am very excited about this great opportunity,” said Verma. “I look forward to working with all of my colleagues in our exceptional Bumpers College faculty. Together we will continue to improve and promote agriculture in Arkansas, in the nation and in the world.”

Verma has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering from J.N. Agricultural University in India. He earned his Master of Science degree in agricultural engineering from Montana State University, and his Doctor of Philosophy in engineering at the University of Nebraska. He served on the faculty of the biological and agricultural engineering department at Louisiana State University for 20 years, including eight years as the department head.

University of Arkansas professor Carl Griffis will serve as interim head of the biological and agricultural engineering department in Bumpers College. He is currently the associate chair of the department.