Weldon S. Sleight, currently at Utah State University, was hired, pending Board of Regents approval at its April 21 meeting, as dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis. Don C. Adams was hired as director of the North Platte-based West Central Research and Extension Center, a position he's filled on an interim basis for two years.
As important as those two leadership positions always have been, a new restructuring will make them even more effective, said John Owens, NU vice president and vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Both Adams and Sleight will have additional appointments that link the college and center more closely -- Adams as associate dean of NCTA, and Sleight as associate director of WCREC.
"Because WCREC and NCTA are within 42 miles of one another, it's critical that they work together to foster greater collaboration between faculty, staff, students and programs for the benefit of the citizens of our state," Owens said. "The formalization of that relationship with these co-appointments will help the university do an even better job of accomplishing our land-grant university mission in Nebraska. We are so fortunate to have attracted two highly regarded and accomplished individuals to these key leadership positions at the university."
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Sleight, a professor of agricultural systems technology and education, has been at Utah State since 1974. He's been associate vice president for university extension and associate dean for continuing education since 1998. He has bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural education from Utah State and a doctorate in the same field from Iowa State University.
A former colleague praised Sleight.
"I am delighted to learn of Dr. Weldon Sleight's new position at the University of Nebraska," said Jack Payne, vice provost of extension at outreach at Iowa State University. "I attribute much of my success in my previous position as the vice president of extension and dean of continuing education at Utah State University to the dedication, creativity and knowledge of Associate Vice President and Associate Dean Weldon Sleight.
"Weldon is an exceptional colleague and talented administrator who has a great depth of experience and knowledge in both the agricultural sciences and the culture of outreach and engagement," Payne added. "With his appointment, I very much look forward to successful partnerships between the University of Nebraska and Iowa State University in furthering our land-grant university missions."
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Adams, a professor of animal science and extension beef specialist, was named interim director of the West Central center in January 2004. He's been with the university since 1990. His expertise is in range beef systems and beef cow nutrition. Adams also has served as faculty coordinator of the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory near Whitman.
Adams received his bachelor's and master's degress in animal science from Utah State University and his doctorate in animal science from New Mexico State University.
Before coming to UNL, Adams was a research range nutritionist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, Mont., from 1981 to 1990 and interim director of that facility from 1989 to 1990.
"I am very pleased and excited that Dr. Don Adams has been selected for this key leadership position at the university," said Elbert Dickey, dean and director of UNL Extension. "In his role as interim director, Don has shown exceptional leadership abilities and a dedication to excellence. He has helped foster greater collaboration among faculty, extension boards and commodity groups. He has a great appreciation of the critical issues facing Nebraska and understands the important role that research, extension and academic programs has in addressing these issues. Don's dedication is exemplified through the leadership exhibited in making the Gudmundsen Sandhills Ag Laboratory into a premier research and extension facility."
The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, located on a 72-acre campus, offers associate degrees in agribusiness management systems, agricultural production systems, horticulture systems and veterinary technology systems, as well as about 25 academic options and certificates. NCTA has about 20 faculty and an enrollment of 212 students.
The West Central Research and Extension Center, which celebrated its centennial in 2004, is the oldest of the university's four centers across the state. It provides research and extension education programs to the citizens in a 20-county region.
Both are divisions within the University's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Dan Moser
IANR News Service
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