The American Society for Horticultural Science named Wayne Mackay, Horticulture Department head for the U of A System Division of Agriculture, its 2021 Outstanding Leadership and Administration Award winner.

Mackay leads the Horticulture Department for the Division of Agriculture's two arms, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, and the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

A statement from ASHS says the Outstanding Leadership and Administration Award recognizes sustained outstanding and effective leadership and administration that contributes the progress of professional horticulture and has impact at the regional or national level.

"The honor from the American Society for Horticultural Science for Outstanding Leadership and Administration is recognition for what we see Wayne Mackay doing every day," said Mark Cochran, vice president-agriculture for the U of A System. "The energy and excellence he invests in the horticulture department every day are reflected in the outstanding research and extension work his faculty do across Arkansas and across the industry as a whole."

"I can't think of a more deserving leader for this award than Wayne," said Bumpers College Dean Deacue Fields. "He has done an excellent job as department head, and he is highly respected throughout the university and his profession. He has created an exemplary culture in the Department of Horticulture, he inspires his faculty and prepares our students for rewarding careers.

"It's special any time you're honored by your professional organization, and I'm pleased that ASHS has acknowledged his sustained leadership and service," Fields said. "I'm proud to have Wayne on our leadership team."

Mackay came to Arkansas as Horticulture Department head and professor of horticulture in 2014. From 2018-2019 he also served as interim department head for food science.

He earned a bachelor's degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech, a master's degree in plant science at the University of Delaware and a doctorate in horticulture at the University of Maryland.

Mackay began his career in horticulture as a grower of specialty plants and worked for a nursery while still in college. After completing his Ph.D., he started his research career as an assistant professor for Texas A&M University at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station-El Paso in 1991. He was promoted to associate professor at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station-Dallas in 1997.

He became associate resident director of the station in 2003 and was promoted to professor there in 2005.

In 2007, Mackay moved to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences as professor and director of the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center. In 2013 he became professor and chair of the University of Florida-IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, serving in that post for a year before coming to the Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch.

To learn about Extension Programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit https://uaex.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

 

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.