Owens new head of OSU natural resource ecology and management
Friday, April 20, 2007
STILLWATER, Okla. – M. Keith Owens has been appointed head of the Division of Agricultural
Sciences and Natural Resource’s newly established department of natural resource ecology
and management, effective Aug. 1.
The department conducts interdisciplinary research, instruction and extension education
to address the sustainable management and conservation of the fishery, forest, rangeland
and wildlife resources of Oklahoma and beyond.
“Dr. Owens’ leadership experience as well as his applied ecological research programs
and successful extramural funding record make him uniquely qualified for department
head,” said Robert E. Whitson, vice president, dean and director of agricultural programs
at OSU.
“He brings a wealth of land-grant experience and an outstanding record of accomplishments
and leadership to the position,” Whitson said. “We are very pleased that he is joining
our agricultural leadership team.”
As department head, Owens will provide leadership for planning, developing, integrating
and implementing departmental teaching, research, extension and international programs;
diversity efforts of the department to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, staff
and students; and the pursuit of competitive grants, research contracts, gifts and
other special funding to include endowments for scholarships, fellowships and chairs
and professorships.
Owens comes to OSU from the Texas A&M system, where he served in several important
leadership roles for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station since 1987. Much of
his research has focused on sustainable use of natural resources. Owens has served
as editor-in-chief of Rangeland Ecology & Management since 2004.
He is a member of the Society for Range Management, Ecological Society of America,
Botanical Society of America and the American Geophysical Union.
Owens earned his doctoral degree in range science from Utah State University in 1987
and his master’s degree in range management from the University of Wyoming in 1981.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in forest management in 1977 and a bachelor’s degree
in range management in 1977, both from the University of Idaho.
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