Lexington, Kentucky
May 6, 2009
Long-standing faculty member and
researcher Bob Houtz recently assumed leadership duties as chair
of the University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture’s Department of Horticulture.
Since coming to UK in 1985, Houtz established and continues to
lead a nationally and internationally distinguished research
program in biochemistry and physiology of photosynthesis. He has
served in multiple leadership roles at the college, university
and national level. He currently is the director of the
undergraduate agricultural biotechnology program.
Houtz has many goals in mind and said the department is poised
to achieve them, due in large part to former chair, Dewayne
Ingram’s, efforts.
“I want to see this department become nationally known,” he
said. “I believe we do have that opportunity. We have lots of
great young faculty members and a great focus already in popular
areas such as sustainability, viticulture and enology. I also
see continuing opportunities in agricultural biotechnology. I
think success is really going to be a combination of passion,
vision and action on the part of our faculty members.”
Houtz emphasized the department not only plays a part in
research and education about sustainable horticulture crops, but
also contributes important research in biofuels.
“We are going to focus on these things,” he said. “But we are
not going to neglect conventional production practices either.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from the
University of Florida, Houtz went on to receive his master’s and
doctorate in horticulture from Michigan State University before
coming to UK in 1985. He’s taught undergraduate and graduate
classes at UK, including most recently a graduate course in
plant biochemistry and an undergraduate course in biotechnology.
“To lead this department, I’ll lean on what I believe are my
core competencies – developing myself and others, leading with
integrity and values, fostering collaboration and managing
change,” Houtz said. “It’s a challenging budget atmosphere right
now, but I believe we can still be competitive and we can still
do the things we want to do to make horticulture in Kentucky and
elsewhere more innovative, sustainable and efficient for
everyone.”
Ingram served the department as chair for nearly two decades.
“During Ingram’s term as chair, the department made very
significant strides forward. Notably, he and the department
have, with distinction, aggressively and successfully addressed
the challenge of diversifying Kentucky’s agricultural economy,”
said Scott Smith, dean of the College of Agriculture. “Equally
important, Ingram leaves the chair’s role with the department in
a very strong position to continue to advance. We look forward
to his future contributions as a distinguished extension faculty
leader.”
Smith added that as UK gets more complex, as expectations for
achievement increase in all three of UK’s mission areas, and as
resource base constraints tighten, demands on department chairs
greatly increase.
“More than ever, strong departments require strong chairs,” he
said. “I am sincerely gratified that Bob and other outstanding
faculty leaders continue to accept these roles.”
By Aimee Nielson
UK College of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission,
reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and
extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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