Nalley, Roberts named interim department heads for ag economics; crop soil and environmental sciences By the U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Fast facts

Nalley, Roberts to take interim posts Jan. 2
Nationwide search will be initiated for department heads

LITTLE ROCK — Come Jan. 2, Lanier Nalley and Trent Roberts will be wearing new hats, as interim department heads for agricultural economics and agribusiness and crop, soil and environmental sciences.
Nalley steps in as John Anderson moves from department head to director of the Cooperative Extension Service. Roberts moves into the post that Jeff Edwards is vacating to become dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
Both departments serve all three land-grant missions, with faculty and staff focused on teaching the next generation of students through Bumpers College and achieving research discoveries and conducting outreach through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College.
Nalley, a full professor, holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Kansas State. He began with the University of Arkansas as an assistant professor in 2008 and moved to associate professor in 2013 before being named professor in 2018.
Roberts, professor of soil fertility and soil testing, holds an endowed chair in soil fertility research. He holds a Ph.D. in soil science from the University of Arkansas. Roberts started at the University of Arkansas as a research assistant professor in 2010, moving to assistant professor and extension specialist in 2012. He became an associate professor in 2017 and full professor in 2022.
The interim appointments were made by Jean-François Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and interim dean of the Bumpers College, and Bob Scott, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, in concurrence with Deacue Fields, head of the Division of Agriculture and University of Arkansas Provost Terry Martin.
“I am very thankful to both Trent and Lanier for helping their respective departments during the transition,” Meullenet said. “I know both of them have the skills to excel in the department roles. I look forward to working with them and to welcome them to the broader administrative team.”
Building on outstanding groundwork

The agricultural economics and agribusiness department that Nalley will serve has 386 students, 351 of whom are undergrads. The department offers concentrations in agribusiness management and marketing, agricultural economics, pre-law and a master’s in agricultural economics.
“I am excited at the opportunity to carry on the outstanding groundwork laid by Dr. Anderson,” Nalley said. “The department of agricultural economics is a place where the students, faculty, and staff continue to do great things, and our department is well positioned with the support of alumni and stakeholders to address the current and future needs of Arkansas agriculture.”
“Lanier is a long-serving faculty member at the U of A, and over his career he’s been involved in every aspect of the department's undergraduate teaching and graduate instruction,” Anderson said. “He truly understands the mission of the department and all its dimensions and has a good sense of stakeholder service. He’s really good at identifying problems that provide direct, tangible benefits to the stakeholders of the university. Bringing that attitude to the department chair position is going to be useful.”
“I look forward to seeing Dr. Nalley as interim continue to foster within the agricultural economics and agribusiness department the tremendous growth begun by John Anderson. Lanier's experience and passion for improving lives is on point with our mission,” Scott said.
Keeping the momentum
Roberts will be overseeing the crop, soil and environmental sciences department, which has 242 students, 211 of whom are undergrads with majors in crop science and environmental, soil and water science. The department offers a master’s degree and a doctorate in crop, soil and environmental sciences.
“We are excited that Trent has agreed to serve as interim department head,” Scott said. “Trent has an intricate understanding of both the extension and research sides of the division. I know he will do a great job.”
“Dr. Roberts comes to this position with a great deal of experience in all three land grant mission areas. He knows the faculty, staff, and supporters that make our organization great and understands the students and stakeholders we serve,” Edwards said. “Dr. Roberts steps into the role with the respect of his colleagues, students, and stakeholders. I am confident that his term as interim will be marked by progress and momentum rather than simply serving as a placeholder.”
“It is an honor to be asked to serve as interim head of the CSES department that I have called home for over 17 years,” Roberts said. “The addition of nine junior faculty to the department over the past several years has provided a welcomed and renewed sense of purpose and energy. We have seen a lot of positive progress over the last few years and my goal is to keep that momentum going as we search for our next great leader!”
Nationwide searches are planned to fill the two department head positions.