Goodwin Named to Student and Curriculum Position

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Agricultural economics and agribusiness professor H.L. Goodwin

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – H.L. Goodwin, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, has been named director for student networking and curricular enhancement, and created a new special topics class dealing with workplace skills students need to be successful,  

Goodwin, who teaches in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, will represent Dean Mike Vayda as liaison to the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board. Working with Donna K. Graham, the director of employer relations, and the faculty, he will serve on the advisory board’s Corporate Culture and Soft Skills Subcommittee, forming initiatives for curricular advancement.

“It is a privilege and pleasure to have the opportunity to serve in this position and bring the important insights from our industry stakeholders to keep our curriculum cutting edge,” said Goodwin.

Goodwin’s special topics class, Professional Growth and Critical Career Skills, will begin this spring semester, and focuses on character, attitude, personal leadership, values and corporate culture.

“I am very excited to be developing this course focusing on bringing the soft skills employers say our students need to achieve their greatest success,” said Goodwin. “Students in this class will have unprecedented direct access to key professionals in the state and nation as career coaches and motivational speakers.”

 “We are excited about H.L. working in this position and about his ‘professional growth’ class,” said Vayda. “Both came about after recommendations from our Dean’s Executive Advisory Board. They let us know what they are looking for when hiring graduates, and our students will greatly benefit.”

Goodwin will also serve as:

• Member of the College Leadership Team in developing direction, policies and operations to enhance student opportunities for professional networking and academic curriculum.
• Contact for private sector entities interested in partnering with the college on curricular engagement and networking opportunities to enhance the marketability of students.
• Primary contact for the University Student Affairs/Career Advising Offices to assist the director of employer relations in engaging with faculty and private sector entities.

 Goodwin is a poultry economist and joined the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science in 1997.

He earned his bachelor’s in agricultural education (1975), and his master’s (1978) and doctorate (1982) in agricultural economics, all from Oklahoma State University. He was on the faculty of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University from 1982 to 1995, where he also served as associate director of the Texas Agriculture Market Research Center from 1989 to 1995.

Goodwin has also served as the agricultural and food systems policy adviser to the Slovak Minster of Agriculture (1996-1999) and as a Fulbright Scholar in Czechoslovakia (1991-1992).