September 1, 2011
AMES, Iowa — Sue Blodgett has been named chair for the departments of Entomology and Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Iowa State University.
"Dr. Blodgett is an outstanding scientist with many accomplishments and impacts in innovative pest management of food crops," said Wendy Wintersteen, dean of the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which administers the departments.
Blodgett's appointment is effective Sept. 19. She will replace Joel Coats, a distinguished professor of entomology, who is serving as interim chair of both departments. The chair position for the two departments was developed in response to budget pressures.
"I am looking forward to joining the ISU-CALS team," Blodgett said. "It is a very exciting opportunity to chair two such highly regarded departments."
Les Lewis, an Iowa State entomology professor who retired in 2010, was the previous chair of the Department of Entomology. Steve Jungst, a professor of natural resource ecology and management, had previously served as interim chair of that department and the entomology department.
Blodgett previously served as the head and professor in the plant science department at South Dakota State University. She joined the university in 2007 after a faculty position at Montana State University.
Blodgett earned doctorate and master's degree in entomology from Kansas State University, a master's degree in vegetable crops from Cornell University and a bachelor's degree in biology from Syracuse University.
The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management offers undergraduate degrees in animal ecology and forestry and a graduate degree in fisheries biology, forestry and wildlife ecology. The Department of Entomology offers an graduate degrees in entomology and several interdisciplinary majors.