Weidemann Named Bumpers College Dean and Associate Vice President for Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas Chancellor John White and U of A System Vice President for Agriculture Milo Shult today announced the appointment of Gregory J. Weidemann as dean of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and associate vice president for agriculture-research.

Weidemann is associate director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and has been interim dean of Bumpers College since January 2001. His appointment as chief operations officer for both Bumpers College and the Experiment Station is effective January 1.

Weidemann joined the UA department of plant pathology in 1983 and was named Experiment Station associate director and Bumpers College associate dean in 1995. As a faculty member, he was internationally recognized for research on plant-pathogenic fungi and received several teaching awards, including the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture 1990 award of merit.

As an administrator, Weidemann provided leadership for the faculty to plan and implement initiatives to restructure curricula and programs and improve classrooms and research facilities statewide.

He has a bachelor's degree in zoology and a doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin.

"We are very pleased Dr. Weidemann has agreed to serve as dean of Bumpers College and associate vice president for agriculture-research," White said. "His experience in Bumpers College as a faculty member and administrator, and his tenure as interim dean since January, have equipped him for this important position. Dr. Weidemann has adhered to the highest standards of quality in performing tasks and providing service to others, and we look forward to using his expertise and experience to assist us in strengthening the University."

As the U of A System's vice president for agriculture, Shult is responsible for the statewide Division of Agriculture, which includes the Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.

"I am excited that Dr. Weidemann has accepted the challenge of leading the academic and research programs of the Experiment Station and Bumpers College," Shult said. "He has demonstrated his ability to lead our faculty in this powerful partnership, which embodies the land-grant university mission."

The Experiment Station has a faculty of 172 research scientists, with headquarters on the Fayetteville campus and programs based on four other campuses, at five regional centers and seven branch stations. They work with Cooperative Extension Service specialists based in Little Rock and agents in every Arkansas county.

Many Division of Agriculture faculty members based in Fayetteville also have academic appointments to teach courses for more than 1,300 students in the 17 majors offered by Bumpers College, which includes the School of Human Environmental Sciences.

Provost Bob Smith said, "Dr. Shult and I valued the critical advice of Dr. Bill Yearian (entomology department head) and his colleagues on the search committee during the past 12 months.

"We had a rigorous and thorough national search, and out of a pool of 14 applicants has emerged Dr. Weidemann, who has demonstrated his vision and capabilities in a splendid way. I believe he will bring the strengths and balance necessary to serve the dual mission of his new position."

Weidemann said, "Having served as the interim dean as well as associate director over the past year, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to serve the faculty, staff and students and our stakeholders throughout Arkansas.

"The partnership of Bumpers College and the Division of Agriculture keeps us focused on the three-part land-grant university mission of teaching, research and extension. Our students benefit from having teachers who are deeply involved in research to solve problems for agriculture, the environment, the food industry and Arkansas communities and families."