Kendall Lamkey

College of Agriculture Dean Wendy Wintersteen announced the appointment of Kendall Lamkey, Iowa State University professor of agronomy, to chair of the Department of Agronomy on March 30. He served as interim chair of the department for the past year. Lamkey's appointment was effective on February 15, 2007, and will be for three years and may be renewed. He will continue to be director of the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding and hold the Pioneer Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding.Lamkey is an Iowa State alumnus who earned a doctorate in plant breeding and cytogenetics in 1985. He earned a master's degree in plant breeding and genetics and a bachelor's degree in agronomy from the University of Illinois. His research focuses on the application of quantitative genetics to plant breeding problems in corn. Lamkey runs an inbred line development program and conducts several recurrent selection programs.The agronomy department educates about 350 undergraduate and graduate students annually and has about 50 faculty and 100 staff members. Learn more at www.agron.iastate.edu.

Melea Reicks Licht is a communications specialist with responsibilities in crop, soil, and environmental sciences.