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Plant, Soil Sciences gains new leadership
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A veteran crop scientist has been named head of Mississippi State University's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
Michael Collins assumed his new duties in April, following more than 25 years in research, instruction and administration at the University of Kentucky and the University of Wisconsin.
The university's strong commitment to agriculture, especially row crops, is important to the new department head.
"The thing that attracted me is the emphasis on land-grant activities," he said. "At MSU, research is tied closely to both Extension and teaching."
Collins earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture from Berea College, a master's in crop science at West Virginia University and a doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He is a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and of the Crop Science Society of America.
He has edited or co-edited four volumes on forage management and quality, including the leading U.S. textbook on the subject: "Forages: An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture." His awards include the National Young Crop Scientist Award from the Crop Science Society of America and the Merit Award for research contributions from the American Forage and Grassland Council.
