By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-0400Source(s):
Jimmy Cheek jgcheek@ufl.edu, (352) 392-1971
David Sammons dsammons@usaid.gov, (202) 712-1729
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — David Sammons, associate dean and director of international programs in agriculture at Purdue University, has been named director of international programs at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The appointment becomes effective July 25.
In announcing the appointment, Jimmy Cheek, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, said international programs are increasingly important in the global economy, and Sammons’ experience, coupled with his vision for the future, will help the university develop a world-class program.
Cheek said Sammons will lead international efforts. International Programs in the Office of the Senior Vice President helps faculty identify and pursue opportunities, secure funding, network with colleagues and obtain foreign-language training. Sammons will be the program’s first full-time director since 1999. He replaces Roger Natzke, who has held the post since July 2003.
“I look forward to helping raise UF’s profile and presence around the world,” Sammons said. “There’s enormous potential for the university to help meet global needs for improving agriculture, food production and natural resource management.”
Throughout his career, Sammons has traveled extensively, beginning with an assignment as a Peace Corps science and agriculture education volunteer in the Philippines and, more recently, working in Africa, China, Europe, Japan and Russia as well as Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Sammons has served at Purdue since 1993. In September 2004 he took a temporary leave to work as senior advisor for university relations and agricultural research, training and outreach in the Office of Agriculture at the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., where he currently resides.
Prior to arriving at Purdue, Sammons was a member of the University of Maryland’s agronomy department faculty from 1978 to 1993, specializing in plant genetics and breeding. At Maryland, he also served in two associate dean positions and was interim head of an outlying research and education center.
He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University, a master’s degree in biology from Harvard University and a doctoral degree in agronomy from the University of Illinois.
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