Cochran named associate vice president for agriculture-research (with 1 photo)
39014Contact Information:Jennifer Vickery, Office of the Vice President for Agriculture
501-686-2541, vickery@uasys.edu
LITTLE ROCK --- Dr. Mark J. Cochran, department head and professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, has been named associate vice president for agriculture-research and director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Nov. 1.
Cochran will become a member of the office of the vice president for agriculture, which includes similar positions in extension and academic programs. The division is a statewide unit of the U of A System; it includes the Cooperative Extension Service and Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and it supports academic programs on several university campuses.
"There is an ever-increasing number of issues that require direct administrative attention," said Vice President for Agriculture Milo J. Shult. "The creation of this post and Dr. Cochran's appointment will put us in an even better position to create innovative answers and efficiencies for the agriculture industry that depends on us.
"Dr. Cochran has provided outstanding leadership for our department of agricultural economics and agribusiness over the past 10 years," Shult said. "He is well-prepared to take this next step within the division."
Cochran has excelled as co-chair of the division‚s environmental task force, which includes both research and extension faculty and staff, said Shult, adding, "He has very successfully provided guidance and advice to our scientists as we have worked through difficult water quality issues affecting Arkansas and surrounding states."
Cochran will work alongside Dr. Ivory W. Lyles, associate vice president-extension, and Dr. Gregory J. Weidemann, associate vice president-academics, to provide seamless leadership across the land grant mission areas to ensure equal representation and accountability, Shult said.
Cochran came to Arkansas in 1982 after receiving his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from Michigan State University. He received his bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University.
His accomplishments as a scientist and administrator were cited in the Arkansas Cotton Achievement Award from the Arkansas Cotton Group and the John W. White Outstanding Team Award from the Division of Agriculture for his role in developing the COTMAN cotton management system now used by farmers in several states.