Jimmy Cheek Named Senior VP for Agriculture and Natural Resources

J. Bernard Machen, President

I am pleased to announce that I have named Jimmy Cheek as the University of Florida’s next senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources. He will begin his new duties on Jan. 1.

Dr. Cheek has a long and distinguished record at the University of Florida. He enjoys the respect of his colleagues as well as Floridians who work in the areas of agriculture and natural resources.

As senior vice president, Dr. Cheek will administer UF’s programs in food, agriculture, natural resources and life sciences. He will be the administrative head of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, or IFAS, which encompasses five major units: the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; the Agricultural Experiment Station; the Cooperative Extension Service; the School of Forest Resources and Conservation; and elements of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Cheek, who also currently oversees IFAS’ academic programs, was appointed dean of the college in January 1999. He joined the UF faculty in 1975 as an assistant professor and rose to the rank of full professor in agricultural education and communication in 1985. He was named assistant dean for academic programs of what was then the College of Agriculture in 1992.

Dr. Cheek received his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in agricultural education from Texas A&M University in 1969 and 1975, respectively. He received his master’s degree from Lamar University in 1972. Prior to coming to UF, Dr. Cheek served as a graduate fellow and instructor at Texas A&M.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Cheek. I am pleased he has accepted this challenging position and look forward to his leadership.

More information is available at http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2004news/jimmycheekvp.htm.