June 30, 2008
AMES, Iowa - A member of the Iowa State University forestry faculty since 1974 has been named interim chair of the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM). Richard Hall replaces David Engle, who had served as the NREM department chair since August 2005. In addition, Joseph Morris will continue as interim associate chair.
Engle will become the first director of the Center for Water Research and Extension within Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources.
Hall earned a bachelor's degree in forest management from Iowa State University in 1969_and a doctorate in forestry plant breeding and genetics from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1974. He teaches four courses in the NREM department.
Hall's research focuses on genetic selection and short-rotation silviculture. He currently is involved in selection of genetically improved cottonwoods, aspens and other tree species for use in the biofuels and new products industries.
Hall carries the title of Arthur L. and Frances S. Wallace Endowed Professorship in Forestry. He also is a member of the Interdepartmental Genetics Major faculty and part of the interdepartmental program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Morris is an NREM associate professor. He earned a bachelor's degree at Iowa State in fisheries and wildlife biology in 1979 and a doctorate in fisheries at Mississippi State University in 1988.
Morris also is the associate director of the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and teaches three courses in the NREM department. Morris' research focuses on aquaculture and pond management.
A search committee for a new chair for the NREM department is being formed.