Contact: Bob Ratliff
Mississippi State University has named Vance H. Watson director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.
Watson replaces Verner G. Hurt, who retired June 30 following a MAFES career that began in 1956. Hurt served as director from 1987 until his retirement.
"We are fortunate to have a man of Dr. Watson's experience and commitment to MSU and to Mississippi in this leadership role," says R. Rodney Foil, vice president of the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. "Dr. Watson's past success as a researcher, educator and administrator shows he has the dedication and skills necessary to guide Mississippi's agricultural research programs."
Watson, 54, is a native of Missouri. He earned the B.S. degree in general agriculture from Missouri State University in 1964 and the M.S. degree in agronomy from the University of Missouri in 1966. He received an appointment as an assistant agronomist with MAFES in 1966 and earned the Ph.D. degree at MSU in 1969. He because assistant professor of agronomy in 1969 and was promoted to associate professor in 1971 and to professor in 1977.
Watson's career as an administrator began in 1982, when he became assistant to the MAFES director for coordination of forage programs. In 1987, he was honored as First Mississippi Corporation's Outstanding MAFES Worker. That award recognized his accomplishments in forage research. Also in 1987, he assumed the duties of head of the MAFES Auxiliary Units. In that capacity, he provided leadership for Foundation Seed Stocks and Variety Evaluations, as well as continuing to serve as coordinator of forage programs.
In 1990, he was appointed head of the MAFES Main Station at MSU. In that position, he had administrative responsibility for the Animal Research Center, Plant Science Research Center, MAFES Services, Foundation Seed and Variety Testing. Those units provide MAFES researchers with the land, equipment and maintenance needed to conduct their work.
In 1992, he became head of MAFES Research Support Units and was appointed executive vice president of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. He assumed additional administrative duties with his appointment.
Watson and his wife, Jo Ann, have a daughter, Heather Anne, and two sons, John Andrew and Joseph Shawn.
In his new post, Watson heads an extensive organization founded in 1888 as the agricultural research arm of Mississippi's land-grant university. Today, more than 250 scientists and more than 600 supporting workers in 15 separate disciplines conduct research at MSU and at four research and extension centers and their associated branch experiment stations throughout the state.
"The agricultural sector is faced with more opportunities and challenges than at any other time in history," Watson says. "My goal for MAFES is to meet those challenges with strong science and with technology development research programs that place Mississippi farmers at a competitive advantage in the global economy, while remaining sensitive to environmental and food-safety concerns."
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