Please Note: MSU MEMO is archived as a part of Mississippi State University's history. Articles may refer to situations which have changed or people who are no longer affiliated with the university.
 |
March 4, 2002 Volume 26, Issue 28 |
Dr. Clarence E. Watson Jr.
Dr. Clarence E. Watson Jr., interim head of MSU's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is the new associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.
As associate director, Watson will be responsible for planning and managing the experiment station's research efforts.
He joins Dr. Marty Fuller, MAFES associate director for external affairs, and Dr. Vance Watson, MAFES director, in leading the research organization. His appointment was effective Feb. 19.
"Dr. Clarence Watson brings a unique mix of training and experience to this position," said Vance Watson, who also serves as interim vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. "I'm confident that he will provide excellent leadership as part of the MAFES management team."
The Watsons are not related.
Clarence Watson will provide oversight to MAFES grants and contracts, research enhancement and federal data reporting and analysis. In addition, he will serve as a mentor to new MAFES faculty.
He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in agronomy from New Mexico State University, and earned a doctorate in crop science from Oregon State University.
Watson joined the MSU faculty in 1976. He has conducted research to improve forage, row and food crops. His work has been featured in more than 200 publications, including four book chapters.
Since 1992, Watson has served as head of the MAFES Experimental Statistics Unit. He also served as an administrative adviser to the MSU Extension Service Priority Program Group for corn, soybean, horticulture, and the green industry. In addition to his service at Mississippi State, Watson has served as a consultant to the MidAmerican International Agricultural Consortium, an organization that supports the development of agriculture and natural resources programs in Mexico and Kenya.