Arkansas State University chancellor Kelly Damphousse has named University of Arkansas alumnus Aaron Shew the inaugural holder of the R.E. Lee Wilson Chair of Agricultural Business. It is the first endowed academic position within Arkansas State's College of Agriculture.

"To have such an energetic and distinguished faculty member like Dr. Shew join our College of Agriculture is outstanding," said Arkansas State's agriculture dean Tim Burcham. "I am excited about the impact Dr. Shew's broad-based agricultural background and dynamic leadership bring to our college's graduate and undergraduate agricultural business programs. His first-hand knowledge of global agricultural markets will better prepare our graduates to lead and serve in a growing world."

Shew, a former Distinguished Doctoral Fellow, completed a doctorate in environmental dynamics at the University of Arkansas in spring 2018. He holds a master of science in agricultural economics and a master of arts in geography from the University of Arkansas. He was advised by Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences professor Lawton Lanier Nalley and J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences professor Tom Paradise, while a graduate student in Fayetteville.

He completed his undergraduate education at Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelor of science in international relations and a bachelor of arts in global studies.

Shew's appointment begins in January 2019. He is currently a postdoctoral research scholar at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, working in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and the University of Arkansas Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies.