10/12/1998

New AU Agriculture Dean, AAES Director Chosen

AUBURN, Ala. - Connecting every Alabama citizen to the Auburn University College of Agriculture and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) is the goal of Luther Waters, Jr., who will be leading both organizations beginning in1999.

Waters, a native of South Carolina, will assume the duties of College of Agriculture dean and AAES director on Jan. 1, 1999. He replaces Jim Marion, who stepped down from the position Sept. 30 to join the College's Department of Poultry Science. Ron Shumack, former associate dean for extension in the College, is serving as interim dean and director until Waters arrives next year.

"What we have to focus on is connecting with the people of Alabama in ways that they value," said Waters. "We want to get their support and build as much harmony as we can within the AAES and the College of Agriculture, and between these two organizations and the people who support and rely on us."

"We want to know what people's needs are, connect to those needs and have them enthusiastic about our future," continued Waters. "If a successful business takes care of its customers, those customers take care of the business. I believe that is true for us. Our customers are our students and the people who benefit from our teaching, research and outreach, so in essence every person in Alabama is our customer."

Waters said his first priority as dean and director is to demonstrate how Auburn University serves each citizen's needs in a way that they value. "I want to get everyone excited about our future in a comprehensive way," he added. He said collaboration among the College of Agriculture and AAES faculty and staff and their clientele will be the foundation of that future.

"I'm impressed with the quality of the faculty and programs that are at Auburn," he stated. "I know there are uncertainties in the system, but I don't believe there are any difficulties that are beyond solution," he noted.

For Waters, who currently is chair of the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University, coming to Alabama is much like coming home. He was spent his early childhood in South Carolina and received his bachelor's degree in agricultural education and master's degree in horticulture from Clemson University, graduating in 1964 and 1966, respectively.

After earning the Ph.D. in horticulture from Oregon State University in 1979, Waters joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota, where he served as an extension horticulturist for vegetable crops and director of the Center for Alternative Plant and Animal Products. Waters became chair and professor of The Ohio State University's Department of Horticulture in 1990. In 1994, the department was reorganized to include both horticulture and crops faculty and was renamed the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. Waters was named chair of the newly-structured department following an intensive search for the position.

In addition to his academic experience, Waters also has farmed, served in management positions in private industry and served in the US military.

"We are anticipating Dr. Water's arrival with great expectations," said Marion, "and we look forward to his working with all the people on Ag Hill and the people in the state. He will be warmly welcomed both from those inside and outside the AU campus."

"All of agriculture is growing and prospering regardless of the difficult resource and funding issues our programs are facing," continued Marion. "Our growth and the health of our programs are due to many, many people and organizations working together. We trust that will continue for years to come under our new leadership.

"I will really miss all the folks that I have worked with in this position, but I will continue those relationships from a different office and different perspective," Marion added. "Until such time that Dr. Waters arrives the affairs of the AAES and College are in very good hands with Dr. Shumack serving as interim dean and director."

"I'm excited about being able to help the AAES and the College of Agriculture through this transition to a new dean and director," said Shumack. "These are times when agriculture is changing and we must continuously strive to make the right changes. I look forward to helping Dr. Waters as we prepared for his arrival and once he arrives on campus."

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

10/12/98