June 8, 2007

Longtime University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty member and international drought and climate expert Donald A. Wilhite has been named director of UNL's School of Natural Resources.

Don Wilhite, new director of UNL's School of Natural Resources

Wilhite, who founded the UNL-based National Drought Mitigation Center, will assume the post on Aug. 1, replacing Mark S. Kuzila, who has been director for four years. Kuzila, a soil scientist, will remain a member of SNR's faculty.

"Dr. Wilhite is a highly successful UNL faculty member and center director whose contributions to the university, the state and to the nation and beyond are widely recognized and highly valued," said John Owens, NU vice president and Harlan vice chancellor of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Wilhite's work at UNL has focused on drought monitoring, planning, mitigation, and policy and use of climate information in decision-making. He has collaborated with many countries and with regional and international organizations on drought policy and planning issues. Wilhite has led international efforts to establish regional networks on drought preparedness under several sponsoring agencies of the United Nations. Wilhite founded the National Drought Mitigation Center and International Drought Information Center, both housed in SNR, more than 10 years ago. These centers have put UNL on the map for drought planning on both national and international levels. The drought mitigation center produces the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map, widely published nationally, through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"As director of the SNR, Dr. Wilhite brings impressive leadership qualities, a worldwide vision and a record of high achievement," Owens said. "He has very strong interests in undergraduate education, research and graduate studies, service to the state and extension education programming and he possesses a proven track record of fostering teamwork that yields success."

Wilhite has received more than $20 million in grant funding in the past 25 years and has published many scholarly works and technical reports in addition to editing several books on drought and climatology including "Drought and Water Crises: Science, Technology, and Management Issues."

"I'm very excited for the opportunity to move this already world-class natural resources academic organization ahead for the benefit of our students, future students and for all Nebraskans," Wilhite said. "I'm flattered to be following Mark (Kuzila), who has done such an outstanding job of getting the school firmly established."

Kuzila also directs UNL's Conservation and Survey Division, which is now part of the SNR, and is Nebraska's state geologist. He has been a research soil scientist at UNL for more than 30 years.

During his tenure as SNR's director, the school moved into the renovated Hardin Hall on UNL's East Campus. This move concentrated faculty and staff in one building from their previous offices and research facilities in eight buildings on both of UNL's Lincoln campuses.

UNL's School of Natural Resources was formed almost 10 years ago by combining UNL's Conservation and Survey Division, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, National Drought Mitigation Center, Water Center and several other academic units and departments.

Steven W. Ress
Communications coordinator, UNL Water Center