Economics Professor Named Associate Dean for Extension in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

AMES, Iowa — John Lawrence has been named the associate dean of extension and outreach for Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the director of ISU Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources. The appointment of Lawrence, an ISU professor of economics and extension livestock specialist, is effective Feb. 1, 2010. Lawrence, an Iowa State alumnus, will replace Gerald Miller, who is stepping down from the post. Miller, who became associate dean in 1998 and added the agriculture and natural resources extension director position in 2004, is retiring at the end of March 2010. "I accept this new responsibility with excitement, optimism and a great deal of humility. I am a product of, and firmly believe in, our land-grant mission," Lawrence said. "For ISU to remain a leader in agricultural research and extension, our programs must be client focused," Lawrence said. "This means that we listen to their needs and provide not only timely and relevant information, but provide leadership on emerging issues." Wendy Wintersteen, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said Lawrence's work in ISU Extension prepared him for his new position. "His background in extension has earned him respect among specialists on campus and in the field. Dr. Lawrence knows the issues and challenges facing ISU Extension. He will help preserve extension's role as a trusted source of agriculture and resource management." Jack Payne, vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach, announced Lawrence's hiring Tuesday at a meeting of Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources campus and field specialists. Payne praised Lawrence's commitment to this vital extension program and said in this period of transition his background will be an asset to assuring our future success. Lawrence joined Iowa State in 1991. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Iowa State in animal science and economics, respectively, in 1984 and 1986, and a doctorate in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri in 1989. Lawrence also serves as director of ISU's Iowa Beef Center and assistant director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. He was raised on a crop-livestock farm near Tabor in southwest Iowa. ISU Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources provides unbiased, research-based knowledge and educational programs to agricultural professionals to grow the economic base of Iowa agriculture. ANR Extension includes campus faculty and field staff with expertise in areas that include crops, livestock, agricultural engineering, farm management and horticulture.