Drew Lyon, Washington State University’s endowed chair in small grains extension and research, weed science, will serve a one-year appointment as interim chair of the university’s department of crop and soil sciences, according to a news release from WSU.
“Drew is very well-known and respected by the crop and soil sciences faculty,” Rich Koenig, acting interim dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, said in the release. “He’s a great scientist who cares deeply about working with stakeholders and colleagues and will be a great resource as interim chair.”
Lyon temporarily replaces Koenig, who has served as chair of the department since 2017. Koenig plans to resume the department chair position when a new dean is selected.
Lyon has established strong connections in Washington agriculture with his outreach to growers, something he hopes to continue despite the added administrative duties as chair. His outreach efforts include the Weeders of the West blog, the Wheat Beat podcast and the WSU small grains website.
“I love working with growers and helping them out,” Lyon said in the release. “Those outreach methods provide them resources and are a lot of fun for me. It’s important for the public to hear about the research being done, who is doing it and why.”
Lyon has been at WSU since 2012, after spending 22 years working for the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff. His appointment as interim chair will run through June 30, 2022.
—by Jonelle Mejica
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