Jeff Edwards Named UA Bumpers College Dean

(University of Arkansas)

Jeff Edwards has been named dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and senior associate vice president for academic programs of the Division of Agriculture, effective Jan. 1, the university announced Wednesday.

Edwards will succeed Interim Dean Jean-Francois Meullenet, who in January will return to his role as senior associate vice president for agriculture research and director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station for the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

“I am thrilled Dr. Jeff Edwards will serve as the next dean of Bumpers College,” UA Provost Terry Martin said in a news release. “Since joining the U of A in 2022, Dr. Edwards has accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time. He has proven himself to be an exceptional leader, and he is known throughout the country for his work in improving agricultural systems and environmental sustainability.”

Martin and UA System Vice President for Agriculture Deacue Fields jointly appointed Edwards to the role. In a statement, Field said Edwards has “a great vision for integrating functions of the land-grant mission, which will be a tremendous asset to the University of Arkansas and the UA System Division of Agriculture.”

As the dean, Edwards will oversee the college’s academic and research enterprises, student recruitment and operations. As senior associate vice president, Edwards will “help address the many challenges and opportunities faced by agricultural and rural communities in the state,” the university said.

He will also help connect academic activities between the Fayetteville campus with the UA System’s Division of Agriculture, according to the UA.

“Since earning my doctorate at the U of A, I have viewed Arkansas as my home,” Edwards said. “I’m glad I returned to Bumpers College as a department head about a year ago, and I’m grateful for this new opportunity to serve as the dean.”

Edwards joined the UA in 2022 as head of the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, which includes 80 faculty and staff members, offers two undergraduate degree programs as well as M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and serves about 240 students.

Before joining the UA, Edwards spent 18 years at Oklahoma State University.