Working Lunch
Sun Grant Regional Centers of Excellence
The Sun Grant Initiative provides our system of land grant institutions a unique opportunity to help the nation move toward the goals of energy security, sustainable economic development and growth for rural communities, and sustainable stewardship of our natural resources. These regional directors of the Sun Grant Initiative discussed the research and progress that has been made in their respective parts of the country.
Kevin Kephart
Kevin Kephart is the Vice President for Research and Dean of the
Graduate School at South Dakota State University. Between 1998 and 2005,
Kephart served as Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and
Biological Sciences and Director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment
Station. He is a Professor in the Department of Plant Science. Kephart has
led national efforts since 2001 to establish the Sun Grant Initiative and
advocate for research and education programs regarding ag-based renewable
energy conducted at land grant colleges and universities.
Kephart received a Ph.D. in crop production and physiology from Iowa State
University in 1987. The emphasis of Kephart's research has included
physiological and ecological factors that affect nutritive quality and
stress endurance of forages. Forage species emphasized in his work include
alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, and perennial cool- and warm-season grasses. He
has conducted extensive research on novel uses of near infrared reflectance
spectroscopy (NIRS), and has been involved in numerous collaborative
research projects with crop breeders, and food/nutrition scientists.
Raymond L. Huhnke
Raymond L. Huhnke, PE, is a professor in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Oklahoma State University and the associate director of the Sun Grant Initiative – South Central Region. He is team leader on a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional project in converting low-cost biomass into liquid fuel and other value-added products. His primary research focus is the harvesting, handling, storage, and gasification of perennial grasses.
Thomas Klindt
Thomas Klindt is serving as the interim dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Tennessee. After receiving his Ph.D., Klindt taught agricultural economics at Louisiana State University for three years before joining the UT Experiment Station in 1974. In his role, he provides leadership and guidance to ensure that Experiment Station research is focused on high-priority issues that significantly impact Tennessee's agricultural economy. He also develops and monitors the Experiment Station budget and coordinates extramural research support activities.
Thayne Dutson
Thayne Dutson is the dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station at Oregon State University. As dean, Dr. Dutson serves on many boards and commissions, including the State of Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Agri-Business Council of Oregon, and the Oregon Garden. Before moving to Oregon in 1987, Dutson served as interim director for the Food Industry Institute at Michigan State University and as associate director of the Health Promotion Program. He was chairperson and professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University. Dutson served as president of CAST, on the board of directors of the American Meat Science Association, and is a member of many societies and organizations including the American Institute of Nutrition, the American Meat Science Association, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Institute of Food Technologists. In 1994, Dr. Dutson was named a fellow by the Institute of Food Technologists.
Michael Hoffman
Michael Hoffman is the director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell University and the associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. As director, he oversees the allocation of federal formula funds and ensures that stakeholder identified priorities are being addressed. As associate dean, he contributes to strategic planning, represents the College to various state and regional organizations, and oversees the College’s farms and related facilities. Prior to his current position he was associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension for Agriculture and Food Systems and director of the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program. He received his Ph.D. in entomology and maintains a research program focused on development and implementation of integrated pest management strategies for vegetable crops. He serves on the executive committee of the Northeast Sun Grant Institute of Excellence and steering committee of the Northeast Sun Grant Initiative.
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